There are two generally accepted reasons why bee suits, or beekeeping suits, are white. One talks about how it’s a result of an evolutionary process over millennia. And the other emphasizes the practicalities of wearing white midday. But which reason actually explains the wide acceptance of white beekeeping suits?
Beekeeping suits are white because none of the honey bees’ natural enemies, such as bears, skunks, and most other animals are white. A different reason, yet equally valid one, is that it’s a color that reflects the harsh sun when most beekeepers inspect the hives.
Let’s talk about both points and whether or not beekeeping suits have to be white.
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The bear argument
Honey bees are docile by nature and only sting to defend their hive. One of its main adversaries has been the bear. The honey bees’ inclination to sting bears, and many more natural enemies, is a common explanation to why suits are white. If you wear the color white, then they won’t think you’re a bear.
Animals are smarter than we give them credit for, but there are truths to evolutionary progress and adaptation.
Think of how dogs you’ve never met run away when you crouch as if getting rocks from the ground. That is an evolutionary adaptation. I wouldn’t be surprised if bees had their own adaptations, including targeted aggression to things that look like bears.
That said, honey bees are incredibly intelligent insects with advanced modes of communication and a keen sense of smell. They’re naturally curious creatures and, with their 6 senses, can probably tell that it’s a human inside that suit.
Still, different bees (specifically the queen bees) have different temperaments, and the bear argument highlights how bees might have a natural aggressiveness, or dare I say hate, to bears. Wearing white then, just means there’s one less thing to worry about for us beekeepers.
The heat protection argument
The second reason, and arguably more practical one, is that the color white reflects the harsh sun from 10 am to 5 pm. Bee suits can be hot, and anything that helps the beekeeper get by should be used.
Thankfully, there have been developments in bee suits to make them less hot. While traditional bee suits were made from cotton canvas, more recent styles are made of multi-layered mesh. This means more cooling for the beekeeper.
That said, wearing white is another factor that helps. All things the same, the color white just reflects more heat. Yes, it’s just one factor, but it’s also one less thing to worry about. And it’s been proven to be effective.
In fact, it’s effective enough that even NASA uses it for their astronauts’ protection against the sun. That’s right, it’s the primary reason why spacesuits are white. If it’s good enough for NASA, then the heat protection argument is probably a sound rationale.
(Orange astronaut suits have a different purpose.)
Why not other colors then?
If honey bees are smart enough to know we’re not bears inside these suits, and if all that’s left is heat protection (and heat tolerance is subjective), then does that mean beekeeping suits don’t have to be white?
Yes, that’s exactly right. Bee suits don’t have to be white.
Why not other colors then? The fact is, no one to say you can’t wear other colors. That’s precisely why there are other colors available! (Check out our Resources page for the bee suits of your choice.)
Will wearing flower-like colors confuse the bees to thinking you’re a plant? No. Their 170 odorant receptors are too good to be fooled. (Related: 9 Superhuman Facts About Bees – Trivia with Infographic)
I guess the prevalence of white boils down to what I’ve said earlier — It’s one less thing to worry about.
Tiebreaker
Many factors cause a bee to sting. From a queen’s mood to the time of day, to even what happened immediately preceding your visit, there are multitudes of reasons.
Wearing white can act as a tiebreaker to whether or not bees sting you. It’s a tipping point that points the scales in your favor. It’s probably not going to be the most important factor, but even a bucket of water tips over with one drop.
Conclusion
So do bee suits have to be white? Likely not. You can definitely choose a color that floats your boat.
But there are real and practical reasons for wearing white. They may not be the most important factors for why bees sting or not, (Related: 8 Effective Ways to Avoid Bee Stings as a Beginner Beekeeper – Ranked) but if you’re a beginner backyard beekeeper and extremely concerned about being stung or getting too hot, then wearing white just means there’s one less thing to worry about.
Honey Farm Starter documents our journey from novices to (hopefully) experts. If you’re feeling a bit intimated by all big words and don’t know where to start, this place is for you. We are Dan & Deanne, and our hope is to create a resource that’s as encouraging as possible for the everyday backyard beekeeper.