In a message dated 5/30/98 8:57:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
 
<<
>It is a little easier to just hold the comb near one's face, and gently
 >blow some air at clumping bees, to get them out of the way.  Then you can
 >see the parts of the comb they were obscuring, and they don't get all
 >discombobulated.
 interesting..breathing on bees..thought this would certainly irritate the
 ladies..the exchange of carbon dioxide(sic)..is this not so? >>
 
    The ones that are clinging to the frame, clumping up, etc, are young bees,
so unlikely to get irritated.
 
    Gently blowing on them will cause them to move on.  It really does work!
 
    Now if you have a problem hive: a failing queen, a honeybound queen,
foulbrood or chalkbrood, any situation where there is little brood and most of
the bees are old bees -- then you can have runny bees, and you'd better not
blow on them.......
 
[log in to unmask]     Dave Green  Hemingway, SC  USA
The Pollination Scene:  http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html
 
Jan's Sweetness and Light Shop    (Varietal Honeys and Beeswax Candles)
http://users.aol.com/SweetnessL/sweetlit.htm