Summertime is fun, but bee stings aren’t. There are some crazy simple tips that can prevent most stings from bees and wasps.
1– Avoid wearing perfume or cologne. Some scents attract bees. Nectar-seeking bees and wasps will be especially attracted to anything floral, even from a distance. When the bees figure out you’re the source of the scent, they land on your body and before you know it, you might a bee sting!
2 – Don’t wear brightly-colored (or dark brown) clothing. This tip is related to the first one. Looking like a flower is as risky as smelling like one. Beekeepers wear white for this reason. Good colors to stick with are white, beige, khaki, or other light colors to avoid a bee sting. Bears are a natural enemy to bees, so wearing dark browns, especially when you’re near a hive, can make them defensive.
3 – Be cautious with sugary foods and drinks. Bees and wasps love food with sugar in them. Check your can or glass of soda before taking a sip from it in case a bee might be just inside it for a taste! Also, ripe fruits can attract stings from bees. Refrain from leaving your peach pits or orange peels lying around.
4 – Don’t wear loose-fitting clothes. Bees and wasps are good at going up loose clothes and onto your skin. To avoid this, wear clothes with tighter cuffs, pants that aren’t too breezy, and tuck in shirts.
5 – Rinse food containers and empty soda and beer bottles. Bees and other stingers like yellowjackets also land on food residue build-up on your garbage cans. Be sure to rinse them well now and then, and be diligent about putting tight-fitting lids on them to keep wasps away from your garbage. This also cuts down on the numbers of stinging insects hanging around your yard.
6 – Wear close-toed shoes while outside. Don’t go barefoot while outdoors or you might accidentally step on a bee. They huddle down in grass, especially when visiting low-growing plants such as clover, and will sting you when you least expect it.
7 – Use caution while mowing the lawn or trimming vegetation. These kinds of activities can arouse insects in a beehive or wasp nest.
