Beekeeping Fashion Tips - What And What Not to Wear

The first line of defense when working with bees is the clothing that you choose. To keep yourself safe, you need to know what kind of clothing you need to wear and decide whether or not you need a full beekeeper suit.

First let's consider why you need to have special clothing when working with bees in the first place. The main reason you need custom clothes is to prevent the honey, nectar, and most importantly bee stings from getting on your regular cloths or skin. If you don't wear proper clothing when working with your hive and one or more of the bee byproducts seeps through, you could find yourself as the target of a swarm as soon as you start removing your suit.

Above all else you need to protect your face and neck, which is where the veil comes in. The veil is basically a fine mesh net that allows you to see while still protecting you. Sometimes bees will get inside the veil regardless of how well you protect yourself. Don't Panic! Calmly walk away from your hive and remove your veil slowly, only then try and get the bees out. Never try and remove your head piece near the hive, this could set off a swarm.

Professional beekeeping clothing is very smooth to the touch. The clothing is made this way to make it harder for the bees to cling to it while you work. Boots are highly recommended to add an extra level of protection for your feet and legs. Once a bee makes it into your shoe or your pant leg they can be very difficult to remove safely. Long sleeve shirts are highly recommended and have the added benefit of being able to be duct-taped at the cuffs for an extra level of protection. Gloves are recommended for beginners, but you will find that the bees like the more gentle feel of your hand while you work with them.

Something that should not be overlooked is the personal hygiene products that we all use. Your deodorant, hair spray, soap, and shampoo all have their own smells which may irritate or worse, attract the attention of your colony. You need to be conscious of which personal care products you use and when you use them. Don't put an extra splash of after shave on just before heading out to your hive, you will most likely end up as a target of a swarm.

When you are just starting out, the type and quality of the beekeeping clothing you purchase will depend largely on the number of colonies you decide to work with. If you just have one colony you can get away with some overalls and a windbreaker that is secured with duct tape. You still need a good beekeepers hat with veil, so don't skimp on that purchase. If you are starting up multiple hives you will most definitely need to get a professional level beekeeping suit.

Something that most people overlook is that bee colonies grow. When you are making your clothing purchases keep in mind that a single hive can quickly grow into two or three hives, which will require a more significant investment in time as well as equipment. Purchasing the bare minimum clothing up front is usually good enough to get started, but you will soon find that you need higher quality gear.

You should also be careful when purchasing a used beekeepers suit. It should be inspected to make sure that it is free of contamination and disease. Spending a little extra cash on a new beekeeping suit and proper equipment can easily be made up in sales of honey from a healthy bee hive.

Chris Shireman is a beekeeping expert. For information on correct beekeeping clothing, visit http://www.beekeepinginfocenter.com.