Yea tobacco smoke I think but want to say they were being stopped for that n9t sure.
Comment on Bees don't have lungs.
pyre@lemmy.world 2 months ago
don’t beekeepers use smoke or some such?
tpyoman@lemmy.world 2 months ago
kattfisk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
I don’t believe they’d use tobacco, as nicotine is especially toxic to insects (and has a long history of being used as an insecticide).
Beekeepers burn paper, woodchips, or really anything that burns well that they have on hand (that isn’t toxic). Source: Have used smoker while handling beehives.
tpyoman@lemmy.world 2 months ago
That makes sense after reading up more I believe I’m wrong I feel like I’d heard that they used nicotine and hadn’t fully researched and took it at face value. Thabks for the information!!
kattfisk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
Looking around there does seem to be people who use tobacco. I guess poisoning the bees probably makes them more docile 😅 Still a bad idea though
Leeks@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Yup. It simulates a forest fire and encourages them to gorge themselves on honey and leave the hive. They get less protective of the hive (because they think it is doomed) which makes it easier to work. They will check back in under an hour to see if the hive made it, and if so, will regurgitate the honey back and continue on with their day.
WrenFeathers@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Leeks@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Fun additional bee fact! Bee hives have personalities and each hive has a different one! Some hives are very easy going and have no problems being worked. Other hives don’t like to be touched and will get defensive quickly. When working hives, one of the things you look for is bees lining up on the edge of a frame staring you down. If you see that, hit them with some more smoke else you are about to be stung!
WrenFeathers@lemmy.world 2 months ago
kattfisk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
This sounds strange. You really don’t want to make them abandon the hive. You want to disrupt the hive as little as possible.
Leeks@lemmy.world 2 months ago
My main goal is to not get stung! Also you only go into the hives every few weeks so it’s not a major disruption.
kattfisk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
Never found even harvesting to require more than the occasional puff of smoke. But we had Buckfast, and made sure to replace the queen of any aggressive colony. Maybe you have more aggressive breeds.
bane_killgrind@slrpnk.net 2 months ago
They stay in the hive if it’s not hot iirc
Leeks@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Yup, if it’s cold they stay inside the hive and ball up! They vibrate against each other to make heat and stay warm.