Getting Stung

[Millet]

Too date i have been stung many times, from childhood too adulthood from wasps and bees, mainly through being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Anyway i thought this up in my walnut sized brain (how do experienced beekeepers get stung) especially when suited up.

I got my bees last year and i have went through many dilemmas in such a short time, my car full of them/house full of them/ greenhouse full of them and so on and i have not been stung yet when not suited up.
Even when they they where Queenless i only got touched once from very aggressive hive that balled me every time i opened up, the tip of the sting barley touched me and was void within 2 minutes.
Is me being lucky or is me doing something correct, or is my skin like buffalo leather.

 

[Anduril]

Too date i have been stung many times, from childhood too adulthood from wasps and bees, mainly through being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Anyway i thought this up in my walnut sized brain (how do experienced beekeepers get stung) especially when suited up.

I got my bees last year and i have went through many dilemmas in such a short time, my car full of them/house full of them/ greenhouse full of them and so on and i have not been stung yet when not suited up.
Even when they they where Queenless i only got touched once from very aggressive hive that balled me every time i opened up, the tip of the sting barley touched me and was void within 2 minutes.
Is me being lucky or is me doing something correct, or is my skin like buffalo leather.

I try and get myself stung at least 20 times a year to keep my immunity up while looking at the bees. If I know their temperament and I am not wearing thick clothing the bees usually sting where you have a fold in the clothing around the arm area. Although this year I have really bad tempered buckfasts in one hive which I will have to requeen, they stung me 30 times in the arms and legs during one inspection. It was from a new queen this year. Luckily no swelling.

 

[Brigsy]

Wow! Are people getting stung this much? I only have two colonies but mine have only got me once so far? A few hit the glove the other day, but none went through.

 

[chrisb]

touch wood 5 times so far, but i seldom were leather gloves and only latex if they are goo'ing things up.

 

[madasafish]

I beekeep with bare hands. (But wear gloves after 3-4 stings.). Cover hands /lower arms with Avon Skin So Soft.

Between Association Apiary - where there are some aggressive bees- and a Q- aggressive hive at home (requeened) - I have had a record number of stings this year - 202 to date (Last year 86 ish).

I now appear to be pretty well immune to bee venom - even stung on the face or near the eyes when grass cutting.

Still hurts. But pain lasts 30 minutes tops.

My pheromones appear to attract aggressive bees from hives I have never worked on in our Association apiary. Sometimes from 30+ meters away! ...

I only wear a jacket and veil ## so of the 202 stings , approx. 40-50 will be on legs/ankles.

## and find that too hot in summer.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Nitriles. Occasionally get stung through those

 

[Magwat]

When suited I only ever get the tips of stings through gloves (my bees have been most unpleasant this year). My suit is very big and baggy and I have never been stung through it in 8 years except for one when I squashed a bee between my upper arm and body when lifting a heavy box.
I do check my suit regularly for potential entry points. When it was quite new I found that my hive tool had made an inch long slit in the fabric of the leg inside the long, thin leg pocket. Fortunately I found it before the bees and I no longer put my hive tool in that pocket.

 

[Swarm]

Wow! Are people getting stung this much?

Yes, it makes you wonder.

 

[pargyle]

Wow! Are people getting stung this much? I only have two colonies but mine have only got me once so far? A few hit the glove the other day, but none went through.

Personally - No - but it would seem that some people are ! Bees do seem to react differently to different people - perhaps as MDF says - personal pheremones are the problem ? Or eating too many bananas !!

 

[madasafish]

Personally - No - but it would seem that some people are ! Bees do seem to react differently to different people - perhaps as MDF says - personal pheremones are the problem ? Or eating too many bananas !!

I always have a banana for breakfast : and figs.. and pears when in season, or peaches or nectarines... (I had to give up the caviar and Buck's fizz due to my ulcer..s)

 

[bpmurray]

I got stung twice by my evil (now requeened) hive this year, and got zero stings last year. Once was only a sort-of sting, where it barely got the skin through the arm of my jacket, but the other was full-on: the jacked had ridden up when I bent down, and she got me on the bare skin. Fortunately, I swear a few times and then it just gets itchy - I know I'm lucky when I hear the horror stories here.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

When it was quite new I found that my hive tool had made an inch long slit in the fabric of the leg inside the long, thin leg pocket.

That'll teach you to allow your hive tool out of your hand

 

[Cussword]

I always have a banana for breakfast : and figs.. and pears when in season, or peaches or nectarines... (I had to give up the caviar and Buck's fizz due to my ulcer..s)

Don't give it up, Take Gaviscon after breakfast. Helps me.

.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I always have a banana for breakfast : and figs.. and pears when in season, or peaches or nectarines... (I had to give up the caviar and Buck's fizz due to my ulcer..s)

No wonder your stomach's in tatters with all that rubbish inside you every morning, you've got a decent breakfast confused with a bowl of monkey food!!