(Shrug ...)
Standard equipment for me nowadays is: a veil (and an old straw hat), a set of Dickey coveralls, and a nice long-sleeved set of lightweight leather gloves which I actually
did buy from a beekeeping store. The coveralls have plenty of pockets. The veil keeps beestings away from "off-limits #1: my face and neck." And the gloves, which "breathe" easily, not only keep stings away from my hands but also allow for easy movement ... and something that I can dump into the washer to get rid of the sticky-stuff that otherwise would be
all over my hands.
inch:
(I wear jeans and a long-sleeve shirt underneath that "kit.")
Yes, I've worked with my bees with shorts and a T-shirt and bare hands. Worked great. However, "your mileage may vary™," and I don't choose to work that way today. That's just me.
Now, all that being said, if you see your hives acting "abruptly, unexpectedly, uncharacteristically" aggressive, then you ought to carefully consider
why this might be so. I don't promise to have any answers for you on this point, but I do wish to point out that it is a red-flag. Maybe.
On the one hand, "honeybees are
stinging insects." That's how they defend their yummy honey. So, there is nothing
per se "wrong about that." Getting the occasional sting ... "well, it happens." Don't blame your insects for being what they are,
etc. (But also: don't get "stupid equals macho" about the thought of getting stung! It hurts, and ... well, there's a reason for that.)
But on the other hand,
"change," from any previously-established status quo, is something that requires to be considered and, if possible, understood. You are their Custodian. Be alert. If "they didn't used to do that" and, giving proper allowance for "maybe they're just wild and ancient creatures who are having a bad-day today," their present behavior
still strikes you as odd ... try find out why. You might not know, but try to find out anyway.
