Anyone ever dyed their Beekeeping Suit?

[BCBEE]

HI
Talking to a realy nice and experienced beekeeper last week I notice he had one of those sherrif suits that were orange. Whilst I was surrounded by bees he hardly had a one on him. I realise that it may just have been that his experience and calmness was shining though but he mentioned that a train of though it that orange cant be seen so easily.

Mm i wondered what it i dyed my suit.
More and more suits in the press seem to be colours other than white these days

Anyone else done this..or considered it.

Phill

 

[jimmybee]

I changed my suit from white to green two years ago and this year im getting an orange one.
I think that I just wash my green suit more than the white but I do have less bee's around me. Try washing your suit if not just get a new one.

 

[sherwood]

Bees apparently can not see in the red spectrum. Hence the use of orange and red suits. These are often used by the regeonal bee inspectors (not the seasonal ones)

 

[susbees]

As soon as there's a dearth/end of season then the orange will attract bees...I've posted before ours homing in on our kayaks (orange, yellow, red) when outside and even my orange thornproof gloves 200m from the nearest hives...

 

[The Cumbrian]

Bees apparently can not see in the red spectrum. Hence the use of orange and red suits.

Most insects can't see the red end of the spectrum but surely this doesn't mean a red suit will act like Harry Potter's cloak of invisibility. They must see the shape and movement and at least some detail or they would never visit flowers from the red end of the spectrum (and yes I do know about the Ultra Violet that they may be seeing on the flowers).

 

[madasafish]

I have a camo jacket. The bees may land on it: but I cannot see them.
Result!

 

[YorkshireBees]

I have a camo jacket. The bees may land on it: but I cannot see them.
Result!

That's fine until they hitch a ride into your car with you!

Seriously I started with a white smock then moved to khaki (greenish) from Sher...

I then bought the full suit in the same colour but have 2 childrens suits for my niece and nephews which are white and they seem to attract more bees than mine.

 

[itma]

Most insects can't see the red end of the spectrum but surely this doesn't mean a red suit will act like Harry Potter's cloak of invisibility. They must see the shape and movement and at least some detail or they would never visit flowers from the red end of the spectrum (and yes I do know about the Ultra Violet that they may be seeing on the flowers).

Red is going to look like black to them.
Black can be threatening to bees.
Victor Meldrew recently posted a photo of a black fleecy bag that had been sticking out of his pocket- covered with stings.

I can see the point of beige/olive/camo in looking cleaner longer than white and not attracting attention to an out apiary.
Not so red and orange. Keep that for Guantanamo!

 

[For want of a better word]

My unfriendly planet suit has a red badge... the Carniolians love to attack it !

 

[TBRNoTB]

HI
Talking to a realy nice and experienced beekeeper last week I notice he had one of those sherrif suits that were orange. Whilst I was surrounded by bees he hardly had a one on him. I realise that it may just have been that his experience and calmness was shining though but he mentioned that a train of though it that orange cant be seen so easily.

Mm i wondered what it i dyed my suit.
More and more suits in the press seem to be colours other than white these days

Anyone else done this..or considered it.

Phill

Have just done my white suit, two packets of 'Dylon' dark green. It has worked a treat, my hives are surrounded by brambles and are stained green so I just merge into the background...in my dreams!

 

[Annie1]

misread

I misread this as 'Has anyone ever died in their beekeeping suit?' I was torn between tragedy and an admiring 'What a way to go.'