Smoke vs Water (or other alternatives)

[Trog]

I've heard of spraying a swarm to keep them from flying off but can usually get to the swarm box faster than a water spray!

I personally wouldn't be keen on spraying water from a container that had been kicking around in my bee kit for perhaps a week (or even for an hour in the heat of a car) onto the tops of honey supers which might contain open cells. Who knows what bacteria one might be introducing?

We give one gentle puff of smoke at the entrance to let the bees know we're there, wait a wee while, then take of the roof and crown board gently. Further puff across frames if they seem to need it but usually the smoker goes out through lack of use! Seems to work with our bees. Sometimes we have to smoke them down off the frame tops when putting qx back on to avoid squashing/rolling bees if there's a lot of traffic on a sunny day but still don't use a lot of smoke.

Of course, some beekeepers believe you shouldn't use smoke or take the cover off a hive at all so as not to disrupt the colony pheremones and they are entitled to their opinions, especially if it means more swarms available for those looking for them!

[madasafish]

I use smoke on TBHs for colonies that are agitated/easily annoyed. But for colonies in a good mood/warm days or when feeding I use a water spray.

Water only. I tried sugar but water is more effective: if you spray sugar solution the bees want to stop to collect it: if you spray water, the bees run away. Ideal when closing bars on a TBH where the risk is of crushing bees.

A spray is more convenient as well (although I light smokers using a two flame mini blowlamp which takes 30secs with dead wood.)