Eugene Makovec wrote
 
>I have one of these ARS-1 colonies.  I noticed, too, that they are generally
>not agressive -- except when removing honey supers!
>
>I also noticed immediately that they were light propolisers -- however, they
>more than made up for this by waxing everything together.  They built comb
>between most frames, and even between top & bottom frames, making it
>impossible to remove top brood box without tearing up honey and brood comb --
>this, of course, upset their otherwise gently disposition.
>
 
I have used vaseline with good effect to stop bees propolising the hive. I
am told that vaseline will also stop brace comb building. I have four hives,
two treated with vaseline and two not. I will certainly treat the non
treated hives this year.
 
The hives treated with vaseline are a treat to work with, no breaking and
entering with the hive tool and upsetting the bees.
 
I appreciate from the comments of beekeepers local to me that the cost and
time required to vaseline hives can be counterproductive especially if
commercial beekeeping is involved.
 
However I am driven by different motives, in that I am a suburban beekeeper
and I do everything to make my manipulations as non intrusive on the bees as
possible because I have neighbours within 15 metres of the hives.
 
Sincerely
Tom Barrett
49 South Park
Foxrock
Dublin 18
Ireland
 
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Tel + 353 1 289 5269
Fax + 353 1 289 9940
 
Latitude  53 Deg 16' 12.8" North
Longitude 06 Deg 09' 44.9" West