Why do you think people raise bees? One of the main reasons is the extraction of fresh and natural honey to consume and sell. People often keep many hives to run their businesses as it can also be a source of income rather than just a hobby. Bees play an important role in pollinating vegetables, fruits, and other crops.
If you are interested in the advantages of honey, do check out our guide on the traditional and modern advantages of honey
Why do bees sting?
Bees only attack when they feel threatened in an unsafe environment. It is more of a defensive act rather than an aggressive one. Stinging is their only last hope as they don’t survive it.
The following steps can be taken so the beekeeper can avoid the situation when inspecting the hive.
Tips to avoid getting stung
Bees’ sting can be deadly depending on the targeted area, how long the stinger is left in, and the victim. So the following prevention can be taken in order to avoid such situation.
Protective gear
It varies with the requirement of protection area and temperature. Some beekeepers are comfortable with wearing gloves and a veil only, while others prefer a full suit.
Round and folded veils are made of wire networks that fit over a cap worn on the head and are placed with drawstrings tied around the back.
Pick clothes that are baggy and loose in fitting light-shaded, long-sleeved shirts with a smooth completion. Khaki material functions admirably for the shirt, and khaki or worn-out pants turn out great as jeans.
Wear boots that come over the lower leg. It is a severe sensation to feel a honey bee creeping up your leg under your jeans. Secure the lower part of the jeans over the boots and the cuffs over the wrist with ties, tape, or elastic groups to keep honey bees from entering.
Although skillful beekeepers don’t require gloves, they can be a significant safety measure for the amateur, to begin with. Most stings a beekeeper will get are on the hands when getting outlines covered with honey bees.
Honey bees can sting through gloves, even if leather is used as the production material. Gloves are made of plastic, fabric, and leather and regularly have a gauntlet base that stretches out nearly to the elbow, typically finishing with an elastic band.
Pick a couple of gloves that fit well; otherwise, they can cause problems as the stinging may increase.
Use a Smoker
Beekeepers use smoke to make a calm environment for bumblebees and veil their pheromones, the synthetic substances they use to convey. Beekeepers will puff smoke into a hive before freeing it up to tell the honey bees they’re coming in and keep them calm.
When a honey bee stings, it sets off an alert pheromone to tell different honey bees it’s in a challenging situation. So when a beekeeper is stung, they’ll use smoke on the area of the sting to conceal the smell of the pheromone.
Consider the weather
Do you have one of those days where the climate gets you irritable? Honey bees are the same way. It’s ideal to work with honey bees on a reasonably bright day.
To keep away from stings, beekeepers abandon their hives be during a cool, windy, and stormy climate. It’s likewise best to possibly open your hives when there’s a lot of sunshine left. Beekeepers never open their hives around evening time.
Ecological conditions have a colossal impact on the behavior of honey bees. It is ideal to open hives when the temperature is somewhere around 15 degrees Celsius or more. The temperature in the mid-twenties is excellent for the honey bees and the beekeeper.
A bright spring day, with a mellow breeze and low dampness, would be a concept of a decent day for beekeeping. Climate is variable, and conditions are infrequently great.
Hive placement
The last three tips covered the systems beekeepers utilize when opening up their hives. At times stings can happen in any event when you’re not effectively assessing a province. To keep away from this, you should put your hive in a smart area.
Keep away from areas where individuals are regularly strolling. A spot with a halfway shade toward the rear of your yard is usually a decent bet. Whereas directly by your garage where you need to stroll to get to your vehicle? Not really.
Don’t stand in front of a hive
In any case, remain close to or behind a colony of bees to keep away from stings. Never stand facing the hives.
Consider the front of a hive as the runway at an air terminal; this is the place where honey bees are flying all through, so give them a lot of room. Except if you’re playing out an examination or are an accomplished beekeeper, we suggest remaining no less than 5 or 6 feet from your hive.
Stay calm
If a bumblebee lands on you, this means that they are curious. Simply keep still, calmly inhale, and let the honey bee investigate and explore for a little. When it understands you’re not a bloom and have no sweet nectar or sugar water to offer it, it will go.
Most honey bee stings happen when an individual gets terrified and starts to smack. These fast movements will make the honey bee become defensive. If the honey bee keeps on irritating you, it will gradually leave.
Preventions if you get stung
If you suffer from severe allergies, you must consider having an EpiPen for crises. In case you’re stung, do take clinical consideration.
In case you’re encountering mild symptoms, you can take an antihistamine to diminish the aggravation and tingling. If you have an essential oil with an anti-inflammatory, similar to lavender oil, you can apply that to the space. At any rate, you’ll smell wonderful!
If you’re not allergic, simply utilize a credit card or blade to eliminate the stinger carefully. This will keep the toxin from entering you. Try not to attempt to use your fingers to remove the stinger. You might press the toxin sack, and the pain can get more awful and unbearable.
Conclusion
As long as you don’t become a threat to their existence and don’t swat at them, you shouldn’t fear getting stung. If you plan on raising bees, make sure to take basic precautions while wearing protective gear. Please make sure the veil has no holes in it, pants are completely tucked in from both ends, and the zipper or suit is closed.
Beekeepers must choose to open up their hives if they want to keep the bees in a healthy condition. In case you’re new at raising bees, then consistently wear your defensive hardware. As you settle in, you might decide to utilize less protective gear.