The Bee Suit: Formal Attire is Optional

Should you wear a bee suit when you work your bees? I would recommend that you never work bees without wearing a bee veil, but gloves and suit are optional – even at the ritziest bee yards.

Seriously, though, if you’re a beginning beekeeper, and you’re concerned about stings, wearing a suit may make all the difference between whether or not you’re able to enjoy the hobby from the start. A good beekeeper suit can all but eliminate stings (though nothing will totally eliminate the possibility of a sting).

If you start out wearing a suit, you may at some point decide to just go with the gloves and veil. Or, you may decide to keep wearing the suit. There are many professional beekeepers who always wear a suit when working their hives.

If you decide to get a suit, there are many options available offering varying degrees of protection, all at substantially varying prices. The possibilities range from just an upper body suit that doesn’t include headgear, to a full-body suit with zippered-on headgear. It’s just a matter of balancing the level of protection you want with the money you’re willing to spend.

One other point: If you wear a beekeeper suit, don’t let that influence the way you work your bees. Some beekeepers, apparently emboldened by the protection of the suit, will work their bees aggressively, antagonizing the bees with jarring movements and abrupt actions.

Even if you have the protection of a suit, work your bees the right way: calmly, methodically, and smoothly. Don’t turn the luxury of wearing a suit into a necessity!

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