Let me explain the spray bottle just a bit. A few hours before going out to
install the bees get a spray bottle (CLEAN) and fill it w/ a 50:50 sugar
water solution. Use HOT water - or the sugar won't disolve and it will jam
the spray mechanism. Spray the screen sides of the box every little while
w/ the sugar water. The bees will lap up the sugar spray from the screen.
Do this as often as possible for a bit - and a few more times as you go out
to install the hive. The bees will be either (1) fat & lazy w/ the sugar
syrup in their belly, or (2) too sticky to fight from the sugar spray.
Then, take your time. Careful. They aren't usually very aggresive during
this maneuver - unless you really make them mad.
Rev. Thomas W. Hoyt
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Warda, TX