So, I see that you are planning to take up beekeeping. Well, you are undertaking a noble occupation. The point is that beekeeping is very important for agriculture on the whole, and not just for honey production. As bees fly about and collect nectar from the flowers to produce honey and for their own food, they also pollinate the flowers which later turn into the fruits and vegetables that we eat. People rarely realize the important role that bees and beekeepers play in agriculture. With this said, beekeeping is also very dangerous and can even be fatal if you do not have the proper protective clothing when you tend your hives. The most important article of protective clothing is the beekeeper hat.
The beekeeper hat is a special hat that is made especially for beekeepers to wear when they tend their hives. The beekeeper hat is usually white in color and has a wide rim around it which spans about six inches outward. The hat also has a veil that drapes down from the rim. The rim is made form some rigid material that can hold the veil. The veil is made from a fine transparent netting that you need to be held away from your face. The veil is to be draped down from the rim and then are tied around the collar of your protective jacket.
Other protective clothing besides the beekeeper hat is also needed to keep the exposed parts of your body from being stung. The face is the most sensitive exposed part of your body, hence this is why how the beekeeper hat is worn is very important. The veil should never touch your face. This can allow for the bees stinger to penetrate the netting and sting you in the face. Furthermore, the bottom of the veil should be snugly tied around the collar of the protective coat to prevent bees from getting up under the veil and stinging you.
The protective coat and pants should all be light colors, preferably white. There is an important reason why protective clothing needs to be white. Dark colors can trigger defensive pheromones in the bees to make them aggressive. This is because most of the bees natural predators, such as bears, are all dark in color, either dark brown or black and furry. If you wear white clothing which is made of smooth material, the bees will not recognize you as a threat as much and therefore will be less aggressive.
