Tips for Avoiding Bees and Preventing Bee Stings
Bees are known to be quite an essential component of the ecosystem. However, the perilous nature of their sting makes them unruly. Prevention is better than cure is a famous adage. This is not different for bees’ stings as the aftermath is quite unpleasant. Fortunately, many measures can help alleviate the throbbing effects of a bee’s sting.
Notably, bees are peaceful creatures. When bees feel that their peace is threatened, they attack. It is their primal nature to identify the cause of disturbance and alleviate it. The concern is heightened where victims suffer allergies from stings. Some of the symptoms from a sting include difficulty in breathing, itches, hives, dizziness, swelling to even nausea. To say the least, such effects can be deadly and hence the need to prevent such stings.
- Stay Away
Most bees are usually busy making honey and enjoy the tranquility of their environment. Having an unwanted guest infuriates the bees that consequently attack vigorously. Staying away from the bees is wise where this can be achieved. Bees nests can be seen and marked.
2.Wear Protective Gear
To mitigate the chance of a painful sting, farmers wear a carefully designed suit while at work. These suits are earmarked for having compact veils and the farmer can see and breathe well. Needless to say, such protective gear makes stinging hard as the materials from which the suits are made are tough.
- Washing your protective gear gets rid of any pheromone that could alert the bees.
- Check that your gear is free of tears or holes that can trap bees.
- By all means, cover your hair and head as bees instinctively attack this.
- Avoid Fragrances
One of the undebatable measures is to avoid sweet-smelling substances. Bees are known to love scented products such as soaps, oils, scented sprays, and lotions. This seems to particularly engage the bees and attract them from afar.
4.Use of a Smoker
A smoker is undeniably one of the best defensive measures against bees. In places populated by bees, this is quite essential as it helps keep the bees at bay.
A smoke signal implies that the hive can catch fire. Bees work tirelessly to consume all their honey. Consequently, the bees become less aggressive in a bid to relocate. Indeed, this has been a timeless coveting with its popularity seen globally.
- Thick smoke works best in alleviating large colonies.
- Smoke interferes with the pheromones that bees send to the colony of a potential attack resulting in a calm environment.
- Whenever there are signs of defensiveness, the application of smoke is called for.
- Avoid Bright Colors
Interestingly, bees incline towards objects that are brightly colored. This can be observed in flowers and plants in their natural environment. Wearing apparel that is luminous or bright makes you a fathomable target by the bee.
- Remain Calm
If a bee has landed on you, panicking and moving abruptly will have the bee apprehensive. To avoid being attacked, it will sting you. As such, being still is preventative of a dangerous sting.
One can move slowly away or blow the bee calmly without creating an environment where the bee feels threatened.
- Wear Shoes
Having shoes on your feet has long been known to prevent getting dirty but did you know that it also helps keep bees from stinging? Stepping on bees is a sure way of frightening them and having them sting in an instance. By wearing shoes, the bees are unable to sting your feet.
8.Adorn Yourself in A Hat
Bees tend to associate furry animals with their honey being stolen. As such, your hair could increase a bee’s apprehension and near contact would have them attacking you. This has worked for most people and the popularity of hats among bee farmers is not a novice thing.
- Avoid Cans
Generally avoiding trash is recommended. However, cans are seen as major hideouts for bees. This could lead to horrendous stings when bees are started by any movement near the cans.
- Wear Appropriate Clothes
Bees being small can penetrate and hide in your body. Loose-fitting clothes and short clothes can act as traps for the bees.
11.Have the Path Clear
Standing in the way of bees and preventing entry to the hive is a certain way to have bees agitated. Bees tend to buzz around as if to alert you to move before inflicting a sting. Making sure that no objects are blocking their entry will have the bees in their happy knack preventing stray stings.
- Be vigilant
Being on the lookout for bees can be quite hectic. However, there are potential signs that bees near you are agitated and the colony can attack. One of the signs is increased buzzing. This can be an indication of distraction. The louder the buzz, the more infuriated the bees are. Bees closing in on you could mean they are getting ready to attack and moving away is called for.
13.Refrain from the Hive
Having a bee sting you near the hive could be disastrous. The bees tend to see proximity as an attack to their colony and will alert the other bees. Keeping away from the hive is paramount as bees quickly communicate with each other through the emission of substances such as pheromone that alerts other bees from far.
- Keep Clean When Eating Outdoors
After indulging outdoors on sweet food or drinks, make sure that there are no traces or spills of the same. This is because bees are inclined to sweet substances. Spillages of sweet foods such as ice cream, juices, and jams are a great indulgence for bees.
15.Employ Professional Care
If a bee has built a nest or you identify a colony, be cautious about how you get rid of the bees. Calmly walk away and engage a beekeeper. Not only will you avoid getting stung but also prevent the bees from moving onto another area near your home and setting camp. Remember, if aggravated, bees tend to be aggressive and are oblivious of manners.