The Benefits of a Smoker for honey bees
The Benefits of a Smoker for honey bees Beekeepers use smokers as a tool to calm honey bees when inspecting hives or performing maintenance tasks. Here are the main reasons why beekeepers use smokers: Calming Effect: Smoke has a calming effect on bees. When beekeepers puff smoke into the hive, the bees interpret it as a sign of a potential forest fire. In response, they start consuming honey in preparation to leave the hive in case of an emergency. This engrosses the bees in feeding rather than defending the hive. Masking Alarm Pheromones: Bees release alarm pheromones to signal danger to the rest of the colony when they feel threatened. The smoke from the smoker masks these alarm pheromones, which helps prevent the bees from becoming agitated during hive inspections. Facilitating Hive Inspections: Using a smoker helps beekeepers conduct hive inspections more smoothly. Calmer bees are less likely to ...