Originally Posted by CliffordK

Yellow Jackets and Honey Bees aren't the same, with Honey Bees being the great pollinators, and Yellow Jackets just being pests.

I don't think I've seen a bee before it hitting my mouth, but did spit them out quickly. I did manage to get stung through my shorts once this year, and will occasionally get stung in the neck or mouth.

My worst yellow jacket attack was solo boat hiking/camping over a decade ago. I lost the trail so I cut down to the river and headed upstream by boat to my destination campsite. Then once at my camp site, I knew where the trail was, so I decided to do some exploring. I cut up to the trail through some brush and must have hit a ground nest and got swarmed. Whew, a couple of quick thoughts, nothing on me could be damaged by water, so down to the river and I plunged in.... it works