Whether you are new to beekeeping or have been doing it for years, you know that working long hours in the heat is no joke. If you are in a hot climate, it is not recommended to wear dark colors because they absorb more sunlight and increase your heat level.
1. It Keeps You Cool
The idea of wearing a white suit as a beekeeper has a lot of connotations to it. It conjures up images of Al Pacino in The Godfather, a Jay Gatsby style gent from the roaring 20s or Don Jonson in Miami Vice.
Wearing a white suit will keep you cool by reflecting the sun away from your body, reducing your heat stress on hot days when you are working in the garden. It also reduces your risk of being stung by bees as they are less likely to mistake a person in a light color for a flower or other source of food.
As a beekeeper, you will need to get in and out of your suit many times during the day so it’s important to have one that fits properly. If your suit is too baggy, it could gap around your ankles or wrists and allow bees to enter your clothing.
2. It Keeps You Invisible
White is the color of beeswax and it reflects light and absorbs less heat than darker colors. This makes it a great choice for a beekeeper’s suit as it helps keep the keeper cool and prevents them from overheating.
In fact, white is a favorite color among most beekeepers. However, you can also choose to wear a beekeeper’s suit in other colors if you wish.
Bees are reputed to be wary of dark-colored clothing as they often mistake them for predators such as bears, birds and skunks.
This is why many beekeepers opt to wear white suits when they’re working in close proximity with hives. They believe that it helps calm down agitated bees more quickly than other colors would.
3. It Keeps You Safe
Beekeeping is a highly dangerous job, and it’s important to wear protective clothing when working with bees. You’ll want to make sure you’re protected from head to toe, so beekeepers often wear a full suit that covers their entire body.
White is a good color to choose for a bee suit because it’s neutral in nature and is less likely to agitate bees. In addition, light colors reflect heat better than dark ones do, which is helpful for keeping you cooler while working in hot weather.
It is also a good idea to wear a long-sleeved shirt that is colored white when handling bees as it will help prevent stingers from getting stuck in your skin. Be careful to stay calm and not agitate the bees as this could cause them to sting you even more! If you do get stung, it’s best to go home and take some pain relievers. This will help alleviate the swelling and it’ll be easier to do your next job.
4. It Makes You Look More Professional
White is one of the most prestigious colors, and it works well with both suits and sport coats. It is also a neutral color that never goes out of style, so it’s easy to match with other clothes in your closet.
Wearing a white suit is also a good way to show off your good taste and professionalism. You can dress it up with a crisp button-up shirt or a silk tie, but you can also go casual and wear a light gray t-shirt with the suit or a pair of dark jeans.
In the past, white was considered to be the garb of the wealthy because it was expensive to keep clean and often required special care. However, today, dry cleaning and washing machines have made it easier to keep your clothing fresh.
