Honeybees are truly awesome creatures. Their bodies have adapted to emit an alarm pheromone* when a bee is squashed or otherwise feels threatened. These pheromones are used to communicate danger to other bees in the hive and tell worker bees they need to be on the defense against the perceived attacker. A bee smoker helps to mask that scent and encourages bees to retreat deeper into the hive, allowing their beekeeper to work more calmly, safely, and effectively.
*Stinging bees can also emit alarm pheromones. If you get stung, try puffing some smoke on/near the area to help avoid additional bees smelling the pheromone and attacking the area. This is in addition to removing the stinger and getting it (and the scent) away from you quickly, of course!
To use a smoker effectively, ensure it’s lit before making your way into the bee yard. To get it lit, start by adding crumpled paper or thin scraps of cotton as your base fuel and light it. Then, slowly add dry twigs or smoker fuel until the can is around 70% full. Keep puffing the bellows regularly until you see a steady cloud of cool, white smoke. If lit correctly, it should keep smoking through the duration of your hive inspection, but be sure to bring extra fuel & a lighter just in case!
When you and your lit smoker have reached your bee yard, start by applying a few soft puffs of smoke at the entrance before opening the hive. When smoking bees, use gentle and directed smoke, but only as needed. Over-smoking bees, or getting too close with the heat, can agitate rather than calm bees.
Remember that calm, gentle movements and quiet behavior in and around the hive can go a long way in helping to keep bees (and yourself) relaxed. Stay careful not to squish bees or disturb developing brood in cells, too. Pay close attention to your bees’ behavior and buzzing sounds when completing inspections and other tasks around your beehives (like mowing). This can help you get a better understanding of how they’ll react to potential disturbances, and you’ll know what to listen for when deciding if more smoke is needed while in the hive.
Regardless of your bees’ behavior or your experience level, you should still consider bringing a lit smoker and some protective gear to the bee yard with you and your beekeeping toolkit, especially if you or someone around you has a suspected allergy.
Read More
Understanding, Avoiding, and Coping with Bee Stings
What’s in your beekeeping toolkit?
How Honeybees Use Pheromones *
* Colony Member-Only Content
