Bee stings are never pleasant. You feel a sharp pain, and the area usually swells up and turns bright red. Plus, it’s just plain unsettling to know there’s a bug out there that can inflict this kind of discomfort at will. While your prototypical honeybee is many times less likely to sting you than a wasp or hornet, it’s important to prep for all three. If you have an acute fear or allergy, consider these sensible tips for avoiding a bee sting.
Cover Your Skin
Imagine you have a day of hiking planned for your family tomorrow, but despite how fun that sounds, you’re worried about the possibility of a bee sting. To allay your fears, start your prep right then as you plan your outfit for the next day. Pick out long-sleeved shirts, long pants, closed-toed shoes, and some sort of hat that’s reasonable for the weather. By covering up all the skin you can, you take away a significant amount of surface area that a bee could reach.
Don’t Wear Bright Colors or Strong Fragrances
Our second tip for avoiding a bee sting is to steer clear of intense scents and colors. Strong deodorants, shampoos, perfumes, and colognes, as well as flower-like reds, yellows, and oranges, may confuse a bee or wasp into thinking you’re the mother-load of all flowers. As they land on you, one moment of discomfort for them or sudden reaction from you can result in a sting.
By the same principle, if your fears are high, you shouldn’t get too close to flowers that bees and wasps frequent because this would also increase your chances of contact.
Keep the Peace When One Comes Close
When you inevitably come across a bee or wasp, you need a plan of action. Like most animals, they perceive rapid movements as threatening. When one lands on you—though it’s tough to do this—don’t do anything. The best-case scenario is it flies away by itself. If it’s in an odd spot and you can’t afford to let it meander farther, gently brush it away or transfer it to another object. Though this carries risk, it does allow you to respond peaceably to them.
In general, bees and their yellow-and-black cousins mainly sting out of self- and hive-defense. They would prefer not to, as their mission is to gather nectar or travel to and from the hive. Leaving them to this is your best bet for preventing an allergic reaction or a painful, scary sting.