The average person removing a bee’s nest does not need to go out and buy a beekeeping suit, but they are highly effective when trying to remove a beehive from their property. Beekeeping suits are full-body suits that will protect the wearer from bee stings. It is true that a beekeeper’s suit will provide the most protection, but they can be pricey. If you are dealing with bees on a regular basis, then a beekeeping suit might be a good investment. For those of you who are looking to remove a beehive just once as an emergency measure can build yourself a highly effective suit out of things you probably already have at home.
This makeshift suit will NOT be sting proof, but instead it will be sting resistant. It will also be pretty hot, which can be a problem in some of the warmer states. Make sure you are well-hydrated before wearing in a warm climate. Again, the suit will work pretty well at preventing stings, but it will not make you completely immune. If the bees begin to swarm you should retreat and contact a professional bee removal specialist.
Supplies to Build a Beekeeping Suit
- Jacket or Long Sleeved Shirt – You are going to want something that is thick without any holes or gaps. Jackets work best.
- Gloves - You are going to want a pair of rugged gloves, but ones that are flexible enough to let you work.
- Jeans – Jeans or a long pair of pants that are pretty thick. Something that covers your boots.
- Boots – We highly recommend that you wear something that covers your ankles.
- Duct Tape – You are going to want to seal the areas between your gloves and sleeves, and the area between your pants and boots.
- Hat – Baseball caps work fine, but we would recommend something that covers your ears as well.
- Skull Cap – You are going to want to use a winter skull cap to go over your head to protect your ears, but you could also use ear muffs instead.
- Bandanna – This is to protect your neck from getting stung, but this is intended to be backup protection.
- Fish Netting – This is going to go under your hat and drape over your head all the way down to your chest.
- Safety Glasses – The last thing you want to do is get stung in the eye. It is vital that you wear more than one layer of face protection.
Assembling the Makeshift Beekeeping Suit
Assembling the suit is actually pretty easy, but if you were to actually wear it every day it would become a bit annoying. This is again a makeshift suit to be used every once in a while. It does not give as much protection as a real bee suit, nor is it as comfortable. It is intended to be a cheap alternative made from things most people already own. It is pretty easy to put on just follow these steps:
- Put on your pants and coat – They needs to be buttoned or zipped up tight. Take a moment to make sure everything is zipped up tight. If necessary tuck your shirt or coat into the pants, and use a belt to tighten the pants around the shirt. Make sure it is tight enough that bees will not be able to get in under your clothes.
- Put on your shoes. Tuck your pant legs around, not into your boots. For extra protection we recommend that you use duct tape to seal the pants around the boots.
- Make your face protection – This is the most important part. The last place you want to be stung is anywhere on your head including your neck. Put on a bandanna over your mouth and let it hang down the front, and if possible use another one for the back of your neck. Put on a skull cap that covers your ears, but if you prefer you could use earmuffs. Put your safety glasses on to protect your eyes, followed by a medium-sized fishnet that will cover your entire head. The fishnet should reach down to your chest, and if possible just give it a little piece of duct tape to hold it down. Top it all off with a baseball cap to hold it all into place and give a bit of extra protection.
- Gloves – The last thing you want to put on is gloves. They will make finer tasks a bit more difficult. You might want to wait until you are just about to spray the bees before you put them on. Getting stung on the hands does hurt so be careful. Depending on how the gloves and coat go together, you might want to use duct tape to prevent bees from getting between the two layers.
Safety Concerns and Disclaimer
This suit, like any other suit, will not make you invincible to bee stings. There is always a chance that you will get stung. We are not making you any guarantees that it will stop you from getting stung. Always keep an eye on your surroundings when handling bees, and under no circumstances attempt to remove a hive without a spotter. This suit may not be able to protect you from a swarm of angry bees. It is sting resistant, not sting proof.
There are a lot of factors that will affect how well the suit works. The effectiveness of the suit will change based on the quality of the material used, the type of bee attempting to sting you, as well as a variety of other factors. If any bee removal job becomes too difficult immediately contact a professional. If it becomes a truly dangerous situation, contact 911 or your local emergency number. Never attempt to remove a nest if you are allergic to bees, or when there are children, pets, or elderly people present.