Sunblock - How do bees react to it??

[CpnObvious]

Being as fair-skinned as I am, it's pretty rare that I don't have some form of SPF 30+ on.  Any idea how the bees may, or may not, feel about this?

[Jen]

I don't use sun block so I don't know if you can get it unscented.

But if you use sun block that is scented, I guess there is only one way to find out 

I use straight sesame oil for my daily sunblock, it has a natural spf 8, I tried it all last summer and I did't burn, and I burn easily.

I also make a summer lotion with the sesame oil, it not only give me a sun screen of 8, but it's very nutritional for skin. AND it contains local raw honey of course. No preservatives, no chemicals, no parabins. Let me know if you would like to try some 

[CpnObvious]

Jen,

It certainly sounds interesting!  SPF 8?  I'd certainly be willing/love to try some.

[LazyBkpr]

I dont have a problem with Vanilla and bees... other than maybe having one of them licking my neck once in a while..    Doesnt work with wifes.. tried...  and failed.
   Dont usually wear sunblock, but need to start or I will pay for it later.

[Jen]

Hi Scott- I'm not 100% convinced that sun block or sun screen is the only answer to avoiding skin cancers. I do agree that skin problems are on the rise. My idea is to keep the skin healthy and nourished, but don't be careless in the sun either. I have read some pretty convincing studies as well about the chemicals in sun blocks and screens that leave me leary of them.

 My daily routine is to keep the body hydrated and that doesn't mean 8 large glasses of water a day, but enough water so your urine is pretty clear. Keep plenty of good quality oils IN the body = olive oil, sesame oil, hemp seed oil, these oils are profoundly nutritious. Your body need oil the same as you car needs oil and for the same reasons.

Eat Honey Everyday ~ EVERYDAY! a full teaspoon or more ~

PS. maybe if you switch out the vanilla to honey, wifey might be interested     

[LazyBkpr]

I use honey in my coffee every morning to replace sugar.  If I have to have coffee with sugar rather than honey it tastes strange...   About the only thing I use sugar for is syrup nowdays.
   My arms and face are usually deeply tanned, the rest of me is pearly white..   T Shirts with sleeves cut off is the norm when its 70 or warmer, but it usually means two or three burns on arms and neck before the dark sticks and I dont burn any more.

[Jen]

Can't imagine you having anything else but a farmers tan, just watch those burns, bad news. But I haven't been successful at getting that news across to a man yet.

[LazyBkpr]

hehe, well, yeah, thats why I was paying attention to the sun block. I have never used it willingly in my life.. I think my Ma put some on me when I was younger.. I believe it would have been coppertone back then..   Dad has had to have lesions/caner spots removed from his skin, so keeping the burning to a minimum is the plan.... next year.... too late already this year.   

[Bakersdozen]

I use an Oil of Olay product with spf 30...always.  Too many years of abuse from the sun and no sunblock has taken a toll.  I don't notice the bees minding.  Some hives are more protective than others.

[blueblood]

I wear sun screen everyday Cpn.  Now, I wear the generic Walmart 30 spf with no real aroma.  Doesn't seem to bother or attract them.  But, boy does sweat attract them.

[riverbee]

" Any idea how the bees may, or may not, feel about this?"

like jen said, guess you will find out?!............

like others i do not, or have not worn sun screen, (unless i am in the western states on a river) but i am not fair skinned.

[CpnObvious]

I opted to go without today... I just didn't stay in the sun for too long.  Maybe next time I'll find out.  Maybe the smoke will mask anything they don't like.

[Jen]

I'm experimenting with my own popolis tincture buffed onto my skin when I get into the hives. I'm not a big fan of smoke although I do use it if I'm tearing down the whole hive. How can the bees be annoyed when you smell like they do? my three last opportunities to try it scored 2 out of 3. Two of the visits into the hive went swimmingly. The last one went well until I got down into the bottom deep and they got real pissy. So I closed it up. But I've had times when I used smoke and they got pissy as well.

[CpnObvious]

I really wanted to avoid using smoke, but I'll get there.  I did, however, successfully go through all 3 hives today with no type of gear on and received zero stings!  What I find to be a bit curious, though, is that when I watch videos of people using smoke the bees tend to drift down into the hive.  I swear mine take flight and buzz way more.  I'm actually kind of wondering if I'd be better off just diving in and seeing what happens...  But something tells me that may not be such a good idea! 

[Jen]

Gentle as she goes Cpn ~ Gentle~ Patience Grasshoppa 

[Bakersdozen]

I really wanted to avoid using smoke, but I'll get there.    I swear mine take flight and buzz way more.  I'm actually kind of wondering if I'd be better off just diving in and seeing what happens...  But something tells me that may not be such a good idea! 

When the weather is warm sometimes I use a mist of sugar water(1:1) instead of the smoker.  I do have a better reaction with the smoker, but the sugar water is a good alternative.

[LazyBkpr]

What are you using to make smoke Cpn?
   HOT smoke will rile them up, as will smoke with plastics etc in it..   Baling twine used to be fantastic smoker fuel until they started adding stuff to keep mice and bugs from chewing it, now it makes the bees angry...   Cardboard is great, treated/inked cardboard isnt so great...
   I use natural wood mulch in my smoker that is untreated or dyed...   reading closely often reveals some tatural wood mulch is treated to preserve it longer, but it is left "natural" color....
    Too MUCH smoke will often rile them too...  usually if they are all lined up on the frame peeping at you a gentle puff across the top of the frames breaks up the vote to attack...
    Just thinkin Cpn...   Not sure why cool gentle smoke would make them upset....

[CpnObvious]

My smoker had mostly pine & hemlock sawdust in it with a couple of small chunks as well.  I topped it off with some partially dried grass ( the lawn was mowed the other day).  I did make sure it was a cool smoke.  No doubt about that.  They never seemed to get angry, just seems as though more take flight than I would expect.  They don't buzz at me, they aren't threatening, they just take flight rather than settle in.  Certainly some go down, just not as many as I'd expect.

[riverbee]

capn, make sure there aren't any sparks flying out of it.
there is an 'art' to using the smoker.....less is better UNLESS the bees are very aggressive, and you absolutely need some manipulation or movement of the hive.  in many circumstances, when they are snarky, just close it up and go back another day. many factors will contribute to a cranky hive, but one being too much poking around will definitely make them cranky and set them back every time you open the hive.

if you are sending bees in the air, and there is a really high buzz you have over smoked them and they are agitated.  you don't need much if your bees are gentle.  maybe a puff across the entrance. lift the outer cover, maybe a puff through the inner hole cover, or lift it, and a gentle puff across the tops of the frames, wait. then open. 

here is a key to manipulate frames with a smoker; (my method) you don't need to smoke the entire tops of the frames or smoke the bees down,  just send a puff across each end of the first frame you want to lift, the bees move. lift it. for each frame you want to lift, do the same if need be, just a gentle puff of smoke at the ends of the frames . that's it.

[CpnObvious]

River,

Definitely no sparks.

I was debating if quantity was my problem.  It is quite possible I was using a bit too much.  I really want to keep it to a minimum, though I don't think my first time in them I was all that successful at that part.  Everything else went splendidly  .

I'll make a point to cut down on my next visit.