Why do beekeepers need to bee gloves?

Bee gloves allow bees to keep their stingers out of the skin of co-beekeepers when working with bees.

Benefits of Leather Gloves,Leather is tougher than many other materials while also providing:Softness — Leather is thinner than many other types of materials, effectively preventing stinging. This reduces bulk and increases the range of motion of the hand and fingers. Compared to harder materials, these thicknesses of leather "yield" in all directions and inhibit movement and dexterity...since they generally have to be thicker to provide the same puncture protection as thinner leathers, they are more hard. Beekeeping gloves tend to come in two thicknesses or "weights"; regular "heavy" gloves are designed to provide maximum protection and last a long time, while "light" gloves are designed to improve touch sensitivity and increase comfort in hot weather . Lighter gloves are thinner leather that a bumblebee might pierce through, but is unlikely to be a bee. Lighter gloves are not as durable as regular heavy-duty gloves, but for hobbyist or occasional use, they will last for over a decade if cared for. If you use a thin fabric or rubber glove for added softness and touch, the stinger will penetrate and your glove will not be durable.

APPLICABILITY AND DURABILITY - Leather gloves can be washed and dried repeatedly without thinning or deforming. Leather is more resistant to abrasion than almost all fabrics and rubber gloves, while it retains all other benefits throughout its lifespan. Heavy canvas gloves become softer with use and wash/dry, but the softness becomes more easily penetrated by bees as the weave loosens, and because the canvas wears thin; also reduces protection. (Canvas gloves never have the right grip.) A good pair of leather beekeeping gloves will outlast a beekeeper if properly cared for.

Comfort - This is partly about the softness of the leather, but also its breathability; the ability to absorb moisture to a great extent and allow water vapor to evaporate from the surface. This makes hands feel drier when wearing gloves. Woven gloves may feel cool in hot weather, but that comfort comes with increased tingling and a lack of grip.

Grip - Leather grips better than gloves made of fabric. Rubber gloves can be textured for better grip, but you're sacrificing comfort (they get hot and wet) and long-term durability. Fabric gloves can be gripped with rubberized "dots", but these wear out quickly, and the grip of the rubber dots or strips inside the honeycomb really doesn't improve much and doesn't prove to be as good as leather for overall gripping ground force.

Overall, leather (with long, heavy canvas gloves) is probably the best choice for beekeeping gloves.