As a longtime beekeeper who works closely with these vitally important pollinators on a daily basis, one of the most common questions I’m asked is what to do if a curious honey bee or bumble bee happens to land directly on your exposed skin or clothing while you’re outside walking or sitting. Understandably, many individuals’ first fearful gut reaction when a surprise bee arrives on an arm or leg is to frantically swat or even smash the landed insect out of pure startled reflex. However, through deeper understanding of overall bee behavior, you can learn much more appropriate and safer methods to gently disengage an exploring bee that provide the best outcome for both you and the bee. Here’s my advice as an experienced bee caretaker for remaining calm and thoughtfully redirecting misguided bees that show up uninvited rather than rashly attacking.
Remain Outwardly Calm and Composed
Easier said than done for those afraid of stinging insects, but it’s absolutely crucial when a surprise bee or wasp unexpectedly lands directly on your exposed skin to first try and consciously maintain outward calm and composure. Honey bees, bumbles bees, and many other species will only sting living flesh as an absolute final life-preserving act of defense, not an initial reflex.
So even though your hardwired primal reaction may be to panic at the thought of an insect crawling on you, any sudden dramatic movements or anxious flailing actually greatly escalates the odds of the investigating bee feeling threatened enough to sting you. For non-aggressive bees just briefly and harmlessly landing to check you out rather than attack, momentary frozen stillness is ideal.
I coach all my novice beekeeper students to take slow deep breaths and consciously calm their mind if a bee innocently arrives on a hand or neck, rather than giving in to urgent impulses to violently swat or smash the bug. A calm and cautious beekeeper seldom gets stung. The same principle applies equally off the job when in the general public. If you can mentally override and control the involuntary urge to freak out, your chances of successfully redirecting the landed bee without major incident go way up. Panicked overreactions almost guarantee getting a sting.
Never Swat or Crush a Landed Bee
Once you’ve reined in the initial startled surge of adrenaline upon feeling an unexpected bee land gently on exposed skin, it’s vitally important not to give in to the incredibly strong temptation to violently swat or rapidly clap your hands in hopes of abruptly crushing or killing the bee. Taking actions like harshly swatting with the palm or slapping the thigh almost universally guarantees provoking even the most harmless, docile bee into instinctively delivering a defensive sting.
Even the most gentle bumble bee or honey bee innocuously minding its own business while momentarily stopped will likely sting anyone or anything that suddenly pins or crushes it under the weight of a hand or fly swatter. The stinger injection in response to being smashed is simply an involuntary muscle reaction from the bee, regardless of initial mood or temperament. And violently slapping or swatting an exploring bee also risks releasing alarm pheromones that further rile up any nearby bees against you for attacking their comrade. Avoid rashly swatting or clapping any and all landed bees at all reasonable costs if you hope to avoid being stung.
Gently Brush, Blow, or Shake the Bee Away
So clearly you mustn’t give into reflex and violently smash a visiting bee that arrives uninvited. But what non-lethal physical actions can and should be taken to encourage the misguided insect to swiftly depart without harm? Once you’ve composed yourself after the surprise arrival, the next recommended step is to gently brush, shake, or blow the bee off your skin without making forceful direct contact with its body if at all possible.
The overall goal is calmly redirecting the bee along on its way and away from exposed areas of human skin, rather than aggressively discharging or attacking it. For example, you can use a smooth hand wave, gentle exhale of breath, or light brush with a soft object to nudge and encourage the bee to voluntarily take flight back into the air seeking flowers rather than lingering on your inviting skin. If the bee has landed on clothing rather than exposed anatomy, lightly brushing the area with a soft implement generally works better than bare hands for sensitive removal.
The key is aiming to delicately coax the bee to move along without inadvertently harming or unduly alarming it in the process. With care and a delicate touch, most honey bees that land on humans can be convinced to happily move along if given a route and reason. No smashing or violence necessary.
Cautiously Move to Safe Indoor Shelter
If gently brushing or blowing is not successful in redirecting the surprise bee within a few seconds, the next recommended recourse is to remain composed but cautiously begin moving away and towards the nearest safe indoor shelter. The goal is to safely distance yourself from the landed bee without accidentally provoking it to sting through any sudden jerking motions or other reactive displays.
Calmly walk to safety rather than abruptly jumping, flinching, or violently fleeing away. No unexpected quick actions that might get interpreted as aggressive by the bee. Head indoors to an enclosed structure, vehicle, tent or other sealable space where you can temporarily trap the innocuous bee outside rather than bringing it along with you.
The key priority during this movement is avoiding any actions that could potentially further antagonize or provoke the bee during your departure. Don’t panic and frantically flee the area flailing your arms screaming. Just calmly walk away with purpose towards an indoor haven, giving the bee adequate time to harmlessly disengage its landing and find a new temporary resting spot before you seal yourself securely away from it.
Watch Carefully for Signs of Aggressive Behavior
Thus far I’ve advised gentle handling methods assuming a relatively docile honey bee or bumble bee just innocently and temporarily landing on your arm perhaps after mistaking your floral perfume as actual flowers. However, it’s vital to remain alert and watch for any warning behavioral cues that signal a potentially aggressive or threatened bee demanding immediate withdrawal.
For example, certain bees that repeatedly land on bare skin and continue crawling rather than voluntarily flying off likely have more ominous motives than a passive pit stop. Defensive bees investigating multiple landing points by crawling imply a high risk of stinging. Likewise, any bee observed hovering directly in front of your face rather than disengaging is extremely dangerous. Face attacks should never be passively waited out.
If you see such blatant signs of aggression or intent to sting, do not stop and allow the bee any benefit of doubt regardless of species. Get away swiftly by any mechanisms necessary without attempting to calmly direct the bee away. Don’t second guess clear threats.
Remove Sweet Smelling Fragrances from Skin and Hair
One very prudent proactive measure you can take to deter curious but harmless bees from landing on you in the first place is to completely remove, thoroughly cover up, or simply avoid wearing any enticingly sweet smelling fragrances, perfumes, scented skin creams, soaps, hair products or cosmetics on exposed areas before going outside.
Note that bees are innately strongly attracted to the sugary floral scents abundantly found in many beauty products, which may trick their senses into mistaking your aromatic skin or hair as actual flower petals and nectar sources. I always advise my beekeeping students to avoid wearing any fragrances when inspecting hives to limit undesired investigative contact. And the same guidance holds true for the general public spending time outdoors where bees are present. Stick to neutral unscented skin creams and minimal fragrance to keep innocent bees disinterested and unlikely to touch down.
Carry a Small Beekeeper’s Smoker for Deterrent Protection
If you want highly effective bee and wasp deterrent insurance readily accessible anytime you’ll be spending extensive time outdoors, consider keeping a small pocket-sized beekeeper’s smoker and petite fuel can with you. Just a few calmly aimed puffs of cool, thick smoke gently wafted around your immediate vicinity whenever a bee gets near is usually all it takes to harmlessly irritate their delicate antennae and induce an instinctual flee reaction.
I never work my full apiary without a trusty smoker in hand, even when dealing with docile honey bees. The natural smoke quickly convinces curious bees that something is amiss in the area, immediately prompting them to hastily depart the scene rather than linger and investigate further. A mini personal smoker slipped into a pocket provides strong peace of mind anytime surprise bees start paying you excessive attention. Just be sure not to directly blast the smoke right onto landing bees. The goal is just creating an ephemeral smoky halo that motivates them to clear out without causing harm.
Have Sting Treatment Supplies Easily Accessible
As one final precautionary measure, always keep basic first aid sting treatment items readily available and accessible when spending time outdoors. This allows quickly minimizing pain and inflammation just in case a bee sting does ultimately occur in spite of your best efforts and precautions taken. A tube of topical sting relief gel, antihistamine tablets, anti-inflammatory creams, bee venom kits, and other relevant supplies effectively combat the worst of venom reactions when applied soon after an accidental sting takes place.
While the initial bee sting puncture itself is inherently painful no matter what, rapid use of remedies markedly reduces the duration and severity of the ensuing skin reactions like swelling, itching, and throbbing. Don’t leave yourself or family members unnecessarily suffering without aid for hours should the worst case scenario somehow play out despite prudent safe bee handling. Though with proper technique, most surprise bee encounters end without drama or lasting injury. Still, hope for the best but prepare for the worst!
When to Seek Emergency Medical Care After a Bee Sting
While the vast majority of bee stings ultimately result only in minor temporary localized skin irritation and discomfort, you should immediately seek qualified emergency medical care if you or someone else begins exhibiting concerning systemic signs of severe potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Beware dangerous symptoms like spreading hive-like rashes, swelling and welts far away from the original sting site, nausea, dizziness, faintness, chest tightness, wheezing, or other ominous indicators of impending anaphylaxis.
If anything about the sting reaction seems excessive or expands rapidly, err heavily on the side of caution and get to advanced emergency help right away even if symptoms fade. Definitely call 911 and alert appropriate health professionals promptly if a bee sting sufferer ever loses consciousness or stops breathing. Have injector epinephrine pens and medical contact numbers directly available anytime you’ll be around bees. It’s far better to exercise abundant caution and get rapid qualified allergy treatment at the very first hint of a major reaction brewing. Don’t downplay or underestimate a developing medical bee sting emergency requiring intervention.
In summary, when faced with a surprise bee or wasp landing gently on your person while outside, always strive to stay outwardly calm, gently brush the insect away to redirect it if possible, and cautiously move to safe shelter if needed. But strictly refrain from sudden panicked reactions or brutal motions that could needlessly provoke a defensive, painful sting. Equip yourself with smoke deterrents and medical supplies for treatment in the unlikely event a mishap does still occur in spite of best practices. With smart avoidance techniques, care, and preparation, bees and humans can thrive together peacefully through better mutual understanding!