Post by beenatural101 on Jun 12, 2010 1:05:14 GMT -6
That is the question.
It is simple enough, it works, and there is always burnable materials to be found somewhere out in nature, that ain't poisoned, to fill that cute little smoker up and send them bees running.
Now I am going to ask why you want them to. Often, I use little or no smoke, it depends on many factors, weather, what I am doing, letting them make honey to take taking honey they made I want (no smoke the month before, since it was new, Can't wait for the natural cut comb next year),just checking or shaking bees for splits. I try to use smoke as little as possible, but it is easy to gas them too much and start them bolting everywhere and flying in a panic. Oops....
I use it because it is effective. Since the first meaningful robbing of a wild colony in stone age days ( not getting killed or maimed would qualify), man has used smoke as an ally.
It does not "calm" the bees worth a rip. It does trick them into thinking the world is on fire and they will gorge themselves on honey while the nest is being taken apart. Well most of them it is that 2% that can kill you anyway.
Smoke effectively stalls out any scent reception a given bee may have for 10 minutes. Scent is a big part of their makeup, their lives and being. Instruction sets on how to act when all is right, and if all is not right, the workers themselves initiate a change (supersedure, swarming, absconding, getting "lazy"). Laying workers may occur earlier than 6 weeks after a queen is not present among the bees. This is usually a death knell for the hive, which would be rather weak at this time as well. You can fix it but it is a pain. dump all bees out 100 yards away from hive all of them. be sure none stick to a frame, hell take em 1/4 mile. A lot will be waiting for you when you come back with their home (same spot) and a new queen for them. None of these will be the young laying workers. They would be too new, having developed most or all of their cycle with no queen substance present. This hive would also be full of drones, as queenless hives tolerate drones until the hive dies out. And drones are notorious drifters. Bees kick them out of the hive during times of dearth, and they go to other hives This can happen anytime, actually, round here it is about the 100+ heat, many drones go, and only the strong hives with lots of stores keep them around.
Smoke disrupts the bees, so.... I am gonna try this.
Mint oil 1 cup, pt spray bottle
1/2 + 1/2 water oil
shake and mist
shake and mist
if the bees come for ya gotta try it!!!!!!
I smoke cigars, but bees dont like pinestraw smoke. LOL!
And the oil is good for em and will make em groom!!!!
It is simple enough, it works, and there is always burnable materials to be found somewhere out in nature, that ain't poisoned, to fill that cute little smoker up and send them bees running.
Now I am going to ask why you want them to. Often, I use little or no smoke, it depends on many factors, weather, what I am doing, letting them make honey to take taking honey they made I want (no smoke the month before, since it was new, Can't wait for the natural cut comb next year),just checking or shaking bees for splits. I try to use smoke as little as possible, but it is easy to gas them too much and start them bolting everywhere and flying in a panic. Oops....
I use it because it is effective. Since the first meaningful robbing of a wild colony in stone age days ( not getting killed or maimed would qualify), man has used smoke as an ally.
It does not "calm" the bees worth a rip. It does trick them into thinking the world is on fire and they will gorge themselves on honey while the nest is being taken apart. Well most of them it is that 2% that can kill you anyway.
Smoke effectively stalls out any scent reception a given bee may have for 10 minutes. Scent is a big part of their makeup, their lives and being. Instruction sets on how to act when all is right, and if all is not right, the workers themselves initiate a change (supersedure, swarming, absconding, getting "lazy"). Laying workers may occur earlier than 6 weeks after a queen is not present among the bees. This is usually a death knell for the hive, which would be rather weak at this time as well. You can fix it but it is a pain. dump all bees out 100 yards away from hive all of them. be sure none stick to a frame, hell take em 1/4 mile. A lot will be waiting for you when you come back with their home (same spot) and a new queen for them. None of these will be the young laying workers. They would be too new, having developed most or all of their cycle with no queen substance present. This hive would also be full of drones, as queenless hives tolerate drones until the hive dies out. And drones are notorious drifters. Bees kick them out of the hive during times of dearth, and they go to other hives This can happen anytime, actually, round here it is about the 100+ heat, many drones go, and only the strong hives with lots of stores keep them around.
Smoke disrupts the bees, so.... I am gonna try this.
Mint oil 1 cup, pt spray bottle
1/2 + 1/2 water oil
shake and mist
shake and mist
if the bees come for ya gotta try it!!!!!!
I smoke cigars, but bees dont like pinestraw smoke. LOL!
And the oil is good for em and will make em groom!!!!