> The perception that honeybees can escape an approaching wild fire by absconding in advance of the fire is so well entrenched that no thought appears to have been given to see that it is an utter fallacy. 



I haven't lit a smoker for years but was, until this year, using 'liquid smoke' in a spray.  Now I use nothing at all except a spot of clove oil on my hands instead of gloves.  I very rarely get stung, having been through 4 hives this afternoon with no smoke, no spray, no gloves and no stings.  I am coming to the view that lighting and using a smoker has a placebo calming effect on the beekeeper so (s)he no longer emits the anxiety pheromones that cause the bees to react stingily.


Chris





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