Beekeeping Made Easy
Protective Equipment
Bee Suit Bee Veil Bee Gloves
Experienced beekeepers do not like stings. However, getting stung is part of the game. You can do something about reducing the risk of being stung by using proper protective equipment.
If you can afford good protective equipment, you should invest in it. A protective bee suit like the one shown in the photograph would be ideal. It is light colored. White, yellow, tan are good colors -- avoid red or black. We would suggest a full suit rather than a pullover jacket length affair. Bees do find ways to get under clothing and since they climb upward, the openings at the belt line provide excellent access to your environment. We realize elastic waist bands or tie strings help keep critters out but you will find on various unexpected occasions when a bee will make its way in. Bee suits are sold for young beekeepers as well as very large beekeepers.
If you are restricted in budget, then we suggest either coveralls (white or light blue) or several pairs of pants and long sleeve shirts. Wear long white socks which can be pulled up over the legs of the pants You will need a veil and hat. The most popular veils are designed with a draw string which pulls fabric netting from the veil down around your shoulders, under the arm pits and then tied tight. Hopefully bees will not find their way under the netting and up into your bee veil. These are not 100 % bee proof. Most bee helmets are ventilated and the veil fits over he helmet with a stretch band that makes tight contact with the helmet. The purpose of a bee helmet brim is to hold the veil so that the wire of the veil is several inches from your skin. If the veil should touch your skin, a bee on the surface of the veil could possibly sting through the veil.
Bee Gloves Your choice of a good bee glove is important. Canvas gloves will not protect you as well as leather gloves. Some beekeeper have used the rubberized gloves sold for washing dishes--they work. Bee gloves will not allow you to pick up queens without danger of crushing them and you loose the special touch you have when you are not wearing gloves. I have been asked about those thin medical gloves and my response after trying them is -- they don't work. They tear easily and bees can sting through them -- not always but sometimes.
We have used a page from the Walter T. Kelley Co., Inc. Catalog for 2002 , Clarkson, Kentucky to illustrate the choices one may have in protective equipment. Visit their web site: www.kelleybees.com .
Comments: Some of the items which I have not discussed are shown in their catalog.
Slip on sleeves Not needed if you buy gloves. They prevent bees from climbing up your shirt sleeves. They do not protect your hands.
Dry Brow If you spend a lot of time in the beeyard on a hot humid day, they come in very handy. I wear glasses and I always have several around. It prevents sweat from dripping down onto the lens of my glasses when I am working.
Leggins They fit over your shoes and use velcro to hold the canvas together so bees can not sting your ankles or climb up into a pant leg. Our feeling is that several pair of good heavy white socks will work just as well.
Leg Straps They are used to strap around the pant legs to prevent bees from climbing up the leg. A good roll of duct tape will do the same thing plus you can use the duct tape in other ways as well.