As a brush for an artist, and a violin for a violinist, the first thing that comes to mind when we carry out associations with the beekeeper is a smoker.
Smoker is a really necessary thing when working with bees.
The principle of its action and appearance over the past hundred years have not changed.
Why is it needed?
To people not related to beekeeping, it seems that smoke is needed to pacify the bees and calm them down. This is far from the case, because in fact everything is exactly the opposite.
Smoke creates a panic in a bee family, as it is associated with a forest fire.
After all, before man, the main place of residence of bees was precisely the forests, which in dry years often burned. So in the process of evolution, the bees developed a reflex: if smoke appeared, then there would be a fire and you need to prepare to leave your hive.
Bees do not feel fear, they feel alien to such a feeling, panic is one thing, as one of the reflexes. It is worth the beekeeper to remove the canvas and lift it on top of the frame, as all the bees rush down to their honey reserves, collect a full goiter of honey and prepare to leave the hive.
In addition, after smoke, bees sting less than a beekeeper. This is due to the fact that when a bee filled a full goiter of honey, it is physically difficult for her to bend her abdomen in order to lower the sting.
However, the beekeeper should not forget that excessive abuse of smoke harms the bee family. Inside the hive, the humidity regime, temperature regime and others are very strictly observed. Using a smoker, the beekeeper completely violates all modes, after such an intervention, the bee family needs up to three days to restore the necessary balance.
About the types of smokers and the principle of their work ...
Smokers are different in size and cost. The cheaper ones are made of ordinary steel, the more expensive ones are stainless. However, the principle and device are the same for everyone.
This is a steel cylinder, which is usually loaded with wood chips. Less commonly used cones or tree bark, there is also a blower fur.
As such, there is no combustion in the smoke, smoldering occurs there, which leads to copious smoke emission. A well-fueled smoker can maintain a working state of 3-5 hours.
Kindle the smoke too easy. First, it is filled with paper and dry small branches. All this is set on fire in an open state, supporting the fire with bellows. When the small twigs have flared up well, the smokers are filled with larger rotten plugs and closed.
How to use?
In old beekeeping books, it is recommended to use a smoker as follows. Before you open a family, you should put 2-3 clubs of smoke in the summer. After that, remove the canvas and well smoke the upper bars of the frames, and only then start working with the bees.
I strongly disagree with these tips. The use of smoke, as I wrote above, is an extreme and forced measure.
It often happens that a bee family allows you to work with it completely without the use of a smoker. Malice is usually shown by flying bees. Young people, on the contrary, are less aggressive. Therefore, if there is a bribe and almost the entire old bee is in the field, then you can work in the hive, generally without using a smoker and without gloves.
It is also worth remembering that smoke can not only simplify the work of the beekeeper, but also greatly complicate it.Excessive smoke abuse causes bees to become very aggressive.The bees forget about their peaceful work and rush in a single impulse to eliminate the source of this aggression. To work with such a family, even using protective equipment, such as gloves and a mask, becomes simply impossible!
It is necessary to use smoke not in order to pacify the whole family, but in order not to accidentally crush the bee during operation.
Do not smoke on all frames at once!
It is enough to let two small puffs of smoke into the far and near corners of the frame that you plan to raise now. The bees will leave this place, and you can comfortably take the frame in your hands without crushing them at the same time.
Beekeepers even have such a saying: “Less smoke - more honey!”
