Can Wasps Sting Through Bee Suits: Avoid Stings, Safe, Protection

Can Wasps Sting Through Bee Suits? Find out how to protect yourself from these aggressive insects and what to do if you get stung.

It’s a valid concern, peoples fear that wasps, with their smooth stingers and ability to sting multiple times, could penetrate through protective clothing.

Whether you’re worried about yellowjackets, red wasps, or even specific threats like black wasps in California, Texas, and Florida.

While bee suits offer protection against wasp stings, it’s essential to understand the risks and take the necessary precautions to keep yourself safe. Following these tips below, you can minimize the risk of getting stung and enjoy collaborating with wasps safely and comfortably.

Can Wasps Sting Through Bee Suits?

Yes, wasps can sting through bee suits if they are too thin, loose, or damaged. Wasps have more prolonged and sharper stingers than bees, and they can sting multiple times. 

To prevent wasp stings, wear a thick or high-quality suit made of thick fabric or a 3-layer jacket or suit. Check My Journey Into Beekeeping With A 3 Layer Beekeeping Suit.

Wasps have sharper stingers than bees, and certain species, like paper wasps and yellow jackets, can sting multiple times. For good protection you need well-fitted 3-layer jacket, paired with gloves, boots, and a veil, offers the best defense against stings.

Many of our customers have found that our 3-layer jacket provides the best protection, giving them peace of mind when working around wasps.

You should also avoid provoking wasps or disturbing their nests. If you get stung by a wasp, you should remove the stinger, wash the wound, apply ice, and seek medical attention if needed.

Tips to reduce the risk of being stung through a bee suit:

• Choose a suit of thick, durable fabric with a GSM (grams per square meter) of at least 160.
• Ensure the suit fits snugly, with no gaps around the neck, wrists, ankles, or waist.
• Inspect the suit for holes or tears before each use.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing or jewelry under the suit.
• Tuck your pants into your socks and tape your cuffs to seal out any wasps.

Risks and Human Interactions

• Stings and Allergic Reactions:
  • Stings can cause mild pain or lead to anaphylactic shock in individuals with severe allergies.
  • Statistics show 10-15% of people experience some allergic reaction to wasp stings.
  • Globally, 500-1,000 deaths per year are attributed to wasp or bee stings, primarily due to allergies.
• Nests Around Humans:
  • Wasps often build nests in attics, walls, or outdoor spaces, causing conflict with humans.
  • In urban areas, yellowjackets are notorious for raiding picnics and other outdoor gatherings.

Preventing and Managing Wasp Infestations

• Natural Deterrents:
  • Use peppermint oil or citronella as repellents.
  • Plant wasp-repelling plants such as mint and eucalyptus around outdoor spaces.
• Nest Removal Tips:
  • Hire professionals if nests are large or in hard-to-reach places.
  • Remove nests at night when wasps are less active.
  • Wear protective clothing and use insect sprays designed for wasp nests.

Can Wasps Sting Through Various Materials?

Leather Gloves and Leather:
Wasps can sting through leather gloves and leather, but it’s less likely compared to thinner materials. Leather offers a good level of protection due to its thickness and durability. However, if the leather is thin or worn out, there’s a chance a wasp could penetrate it.

Jeans:
Wasps can sting through jeans, especially if the fabric is tight against the skin. Denim offers some protection, but it’s not entirely sting-proof, particularly if the wasp is persistent or the fabric is stretched thin.

Clothes:
Regular clothes, especially those made from lightweight fabrics, provide little protection against wasp stings. Loose-fitting clothes offer a bit more safety, as they create a barrier between the fabric and the skin, but they aren’t foolproof.

Plastic:
Wasps cannot sting through hard plastic. If the material is thin or flexible, like a plastic bag, there’s still a chance the stinger could penetrate, but it’s much less likely.

Jackets:
A thick jacket can offer decent protection against wasp stings, but if the jacket is made from a thin material or is tightly fitted, a determined wasp may still be able to sting through it.

Stingers:
Unlike bees, wasps do not leave their stingers behind after stinging. This allows them to sting multiple times, which is why it’s important to be cautious even if you’ve been stung once.

Bee Suits & Wasps

Bee suits, also known as beekeeping suits or beekeeping veils, are specially designed protective clothing that beekeepers wear when working with bees. They protect the wearer from bee stings and keep the bees away from the face and body.

On the other hand, wasps are a different species from bees and have different behaviors and characteristics. Wasps are known to be more aggressive and have longer stingers than bees. They can also sting multiple times, unlike bees, which can sting only once.

Wasps: Characteristics & Types

1. Scientific Classification:
   • Order: Hymenoptera
   • Family: Vespidae (common wasps)
2. Body Structure:
   • Three-part body: head, thorax, abdomen
   • Narrow waist called petiole separating thorax and abdomen
   • Antennae: Elongated and segmented, used for sensing smells and vibrations
3. Wings: Two pairs, with the hindwings smaller than the forewings
4. Size: Varies significantly across species, ranging from 2 mm to 5 cm in length
5. Color: Commonly yellow and black or metallic colors (blue, green in certain species)
6. Sting:
   • Equipped with stingers, primarily females
   • Stinger is smooth, allowing multiple stings (unlike bees, which sting only once)
   • Some species inject venom that can cause allergic reactions or paralyze prey

Fun Facts and Statistics

• There are approximately 30,000 species of wasps worldwide.
• Some species of hornets can sting multiple times and release pheromones to signal an attack.
• Fig wasps are essential for the survival of fig trees, and both have a symbiotic relationship spanning millions of years.
• The Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia), often dubbed the “Murder Hornet,” can reach a size of 5 cm (2 inches).

Types of Wasps (Overview)

Wasps exhibit incredible diversity, with over 30,000 species worldwide, ranging from social wasps like yellowjackets to solitary wasps such as cicada killers.

Each type plays an essential role in maintaining ecological balance the whether by controlling pest populations, pollinating plants, or scavenging organic material.

Knowing the differences between these types of wasps with different characteristics and behaviors.

Social Wasps:

Social wasps live in colonies with cooperative members. Their nests are usually built from paper-like materials made of chewed wood fibers and saliva.

1. Paper Wasps

• Scientific Name: Polistes spp.
• Key Characteristics:
  • Build umbrella-shaped nests with exposed cells.
  • Less aggressive compared to yellowjackets and hornets.
  • Feed on nectar and small insects.
  • Play a role in pollination and pest control.
• Distribution: North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
• Fun Fact: A colony can contain 100-200 individuals.

2. Yellowjackets

• Scientific Name: Vespula spp.
• Key Characteristics:
  • Highly aggressive, known for scavenging behavior.
  • Build large nests underground or in walls.
  • Stings multiple times without losing the stinger.
• Distribution: Found worldwide, especially in temperate regions.
• Fun Fact: Colonies can house up to 5,000 wasps during peak summer months.

3. Hornets

• Scientific Name: Vespa spp.
• Key Characteristics:
  • Larger and more aggressive than yellowjackets.
  • Predatory, feeding on other insects like bees.
  • Build large aerial nests in trees or buildings.
• Distribution: Asia, Europe, and parts of North America.
• Fun Fact: Some hornet stings release pheromones, signaling others to attack.

Solitary Wasps

Unlike social wasps, solitary wasps do not live in colonies. They prefer to hunt and build nests independently.

4. Mud Daubers

• Scientific Names:
  • Sceliphron caementarium (black and yellow mud dauber)
  • Chalybion californicum (blue mud dauber)
• Key Characteristics:
  • Construct mud nests on walls or ceilings.
  • Non-aggressive; rarely sting humans.
  • Feed on spiders, using them as food for larvae.
• Distribution: Found across North and South America.
• Fun Fact: They are known for removing spider infestations.

5. Cicada Killers

• Scientific Name: Sphecius speciosus
• Key Characteristics:
  • Large solitary wasps, often over 2 inches in length.
  • Prey on cicadas, paralyzing them to serve as food for larvae.
  • Dig burrows in sandy soil for nests.
• Distribution: North and Central America.
• Fun Fact: Despite their intimidating size, they are non-aggressive toward humans.

6. Velvet Ants (Cow Killers)

• Scientific Name: Mutilla occidentalis (eastern velvet ant)
• Key Characteristics:
  • Wingless females resemble ants but are wasps.
  • Known for their painful sting, sometimes called “cow killers.”
  • Parasitic, laying eggs inside the nests of other insects.
• Distribution: North America, particularly in the southern U.S.
• Fun Fact: Their sting ranks high on the Schmidt Sting Pain Index.

Parasitic Wasps

Parasitic wasps use other insects as hosts for their eggs, providing natural pest control.

7. Ichneumon Wasps

• Scientific Name: Ichneumonidae spp.
• Key Characteristics:
  • Lay eggs inside caterpillars, beetles, and other insects.
  • Play an essential role in controlling pest populations.
  • Some species can sense their prey inside wood or soil.
• Distribution: Found worldwide, in forests and agricultural areas.
• Fun Fact: There are more than 25,000 species of ichneumon wasps.

8. Fig Wasps

• Scientific Name: Agaonidae spp.
• Key Characteristics:
  • Specialized pollinators for fig trees.
  • Females lay eggs inside fig flowers.
  • Mutualistic relationship: Fig trees depend on these wasps for pollination.
• Distribution: Africa, Asia, and parts of Latin America.
• Fun Fact: The fig-wasp relationship has lasted for 80 million years.

Flying insects belonging to the Hymenoptera order, including bees and ants. There are 5 different types of wasps with different characteristics and behaviors.

Comparison of Social and Solitary Wasps

Lifecycle of Wasps

Four main stages:

1. Egg
   • Laid in nests (often cells within the nest structure)
   • Some parasitic wasps lay eggs inside other insects’ bodies
2. Larva
   • Fed by workers (in social species) with insects or nectar
   • Larva molts several times before pupation
3. Pupa
   • Cocoon forms around the larva, leading to metamorphosis
   • Takes 7-15 days for the adult to emerge
4. Adult
   • Social species: Develop roles (workers, drones, or queens)
   • Lifespan of adults: 3-6 weeks, except queens, which may live up to 12 months

Social vs. Solitary Wasps

Importance of Wasps in the Ecosystem

• Pollination:
  • Wasps are important pollinators for several plants, including fig trees.
  • Unlike bees, wasps are not covered in hair, so they are less effective but still contribute to cross-pollination.
• Pest Control:
  • Parasitic wasps play a key role in biological pest control by laying eggs inside harmful insects like aphids and caterpillars.
  • Some wasps hunt pests such as flies, beetles, and spiders, reducing crop damage.
• Scavengers:
  • Many social wasps (like yellowjackets) act as scavengers, cleaning up decaying organic material in the environment.

Why might someone be concerned about wasps stinging through bee suits?

Wasps have smoother and more curved stingers than bees, making it potentially more accessible for them to penetrate fabric like bee suits.

Wasps are generally more aggressive and likely to sting unprovoked if they feel threatened, unlike bees, which are usually docile unless seriously provoked. If a wasp manages to sting through a bee suit, it can leave pheromones that signal other wasps to attack, increasing the risk of getting swarmed and stung multiple times.

Furthermore, the venom from wasp stings can cause more severe reactions and complications in some cases compared to bee stings, adding to the concern of being stung by wasps even while wearing protective gear like bee suits.

Understanding the Risks: 

Wasp stings can be excruciating and cause severe allergic reactions in some people. While bee suits are designed to protect against bee stings, they may be less effective against wasps. This is because wasps have longer stingers and can sting multiple times, whereas bees can only sting once.

Precautions to Take: 

If you plan to collaborate with wasps while wearing a bee suit, there are 6 precautions to minimize the risk of getting stung.

1. Wear thick clothing: Wasp stings can penetrate through thin clothing, so it’s important to wear thick, protective clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible.
2. Avoid bright colors and floral patterns: Wasps are attracted to them, so it’s best to avoid wearing these when collaborating with wasps.
3. Use a veil: A veil is essential to a bee suit, protecting your face from stings. Make sure your veil is securely fastened and covers your face completely.
4. Use gloves: Wasps can sting through gloves, so wearing thick, protective gloves that cover your wrists is important.
5. Use a bee brush: A bee brush is a gentle tool for moving bees and wasps out of the way without harming them.
6. Be calm and move slowly: Wasps are more likely to sting when they feel threatened, so it’s important to move slowly and calmly when collaborating with them.

Comparing Bee Suits, Coveralls, and Tyvek: A Guide to Choosing

What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction to wasp stings?

It can range from localized redness, swelling, and pain to more serious signs like difficulty breathing, swelling of the face and throat, hives, dizziness, nausea, and even loss of consciousness.

How to treat wasp stings?

First aid measures such as removing the stinger, washing the area, applying cold compresses, taking pain medication, using hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion for itching, and considering antihistamines for swelling and itching.

In cases of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), immediate administration of epinephrine is crucial, followed by seeking emergency medical care. It is essential to be aware of these risks and symptoms to respond promptly and effectively to wasp stings, especially when wearing protective gear like bee suits.

Other Considerations When Wearing a Bee Suit

1. Fit: The bee suit should fit snugly but not too tight to ensure that it does not restrict your movement and allows for proper ventilation.
2. Weather conditions: A bee suit can become hot and stuffy in warm weather, so it’s important to wear light-colored clothing underneath to help keep you cool.
3. Zippers and closures: Ensure that all zippers and closures are securely fastened to prevent bees and wasps from entering the bee suit.
4. Ventilation: Look for a bee suit with mesh-covered vents to provide proper ventilation and reduce heat buildup.
5. Care and maintenance: To ensure the bee suit’s longevity and effectiveness, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for care and maintenance.
6. Additional protection: In addition to the bee suit, it is recommended to wear a veil, gloves, and a bee brush to protect exposed areas of the skin.
7. Familiarize with the environment: It is essential to familiarize yourself with the environment you will be in. Take note of the location of the bees’ or wasps’ nest and try to avoid it. Also, consider the time of day and weather, as bees and wasps are more active during certain times and conditions.

We recommend use a 3-layer bee suit or jacket for better protection.

Do Wasps Sting or Bite

Wasps sting rather than bite when defending their nest or if threatened. The sting injects venom that causes a painful welt.

• A wasp’s stinger is a modified egg-laying device. Only female wasps have stingers.
• When a wasp stings, it injects venom through its stinger into the victim. The venom contains chemicals like acetylcholine and histamine that are meant to paralyze and kill insect prey but cause pain and inflammation in humans.
• Wasp stingers are not barbed like a honey bee’s stinger, so wasps can sting repeatedly without dying.
• Common wasp sting symptoms include instant pain, swelling, redness at the sting site, and itching. More severe allergic reactions are possible, too.
• Treatment involves removing the stinger if still present, washing the area, applying ice, taking antihistamines for itching, and using hydrocortisone cream on swelling. Seek medical help if you have signs of anaphylaxis.
• Deer flies and horse flies bite, drawing blood with their sharp mouthparts. But wasps, yellowjackets, and hornets all use stingers instead of biting.

Visit Hot Tubs Patio for more information about Beekeeping.

What clothes can wasps not sting through? Wasps can sting through any clothing if they are determined enough. However, clothes made of thick and tightly woven materials such as denim or canvas may provide better protection against wasp stings or use a 3-layer type suit.

Do bee suits work for yellow jackets? Bee suits can provide some protection against yellow jacket stings, but it’s important to understand that yellow jackets are more aggressive than bees and have longer stingers.

Can wasps sting through Tyvek? Tyvek is often used in protective clothing such as coveralls. It is a synthetic material made of flash-spun high-density polyethylene fibers and is known for being durable and resistant to punctures and tears.

Can wasps sting through bee suits? While bee suits offer some protection against wasp stings, it’s important to understand the risks and take the necessary precautions to keep yourself safe. Wasps have longer stingers and can sting multiple times, whereas bees can only sting once.

What precautions should I take when collaborating with wasps while wearing a bee suit? To minimize the risk of getting stung, wear thick, protective clothing covering as much of your skin as possible, avoid bright colors and floral patterns, wear a veil and gloves, use a bee brush, and move slowly and calmly.

Can I wear my bee suit when collaborating with hornets? Hornet stings can be more dangerous than a wasp or bee stings due to the venom they contain. So, it’s important to take extra precautions when working with hornets. It is recommended to wear thicker and more protective clothing that covers all exposed skin and use a veil, gloves, and a bee brush.

Can bees sting people through jeans? Bees can sting people through jeans if they are tight or worn out. Their barbed stingers can penetrate thin or stretched fabrics. 

Can a hornet sting you through a bee suit? A hornet can sting you through a bee suit if the suit is not properly designed or maintained. Hornets have smooth and powerful stingers that can pierce through weak or torn parts of the suit. 

How can I treat a wasp sting? If the stinger is still in the skin, remove it, wash the area with soap and water, and apply a cold pack to reduce swelling. Over-the-counter pain relievers and antihistamines can also be used to alleviate pain and relieve itching.

If you experience severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, seek immediate medical attention.

How can I prevent wasp stings while working with wasps? You should take the necessary precautions, such as wearing thick, protective clothing, avoiding bright colors and floral patterns, using a veil, gloves, and a bee brush, and moving slowly and calmly.

What should you not wear around wasps? Bright colors and floral patterns should be avoided as wasps are attracted to them.

What makes a bee suit stingproof? A bee suit made from thick, tightly woven material can make it stingproof.

Can wasps sting through coveralls? Wasps can sting through coveralls if made of thin material.

Can mosquitoes bite through a bee suit? A thick, tightly woven bee suit may prevent mosquitoes from biting through it.

What clothes can bees not sting through? Clothes of thick and tightly woven material can prevent bees from stinging through.

What should I wear under my bee suit? I recommend wearing light, breathable clothes under your bee suit, such as cotton T-shirts or long-sleeved shirts, and comfortable pants or shorts. You should also wear a hat and veil to protect your face and neck from bee stings. Some beekeepers also wear gloves, wrist protectors, boots, and boot bands for extra protection.