Hi !                            [05-Apr-95 10:40]
 
I said ...
 
> Seems _pure water_ gets no problem and is really useful to weaken some
> vicious bees ...              ** TO WEAKEN SOME VICIOUS ! **
 
Allen Dick observed ...
 
> I would think that unless one is very careful, open brood could easily be
> killed with either water or syrup.
> We have noticed that young brood sometimes disappears after simply being
> looked at, even when handled carefully. Careless shaking of frames and
> exposure to sun, wind, etc. for more than an instant can result in loss of
> brood.
> Any drops of water or syrup landing in a cell might upset the balance in
> the cell and result in loss of a larva.  Any mist used should be *very*
> fine, I would think, and I would advise marking any brood sprayed and a
> checkup several days later to see if any loss has resulted, before adopting
> this technique without reserve.
 
I quite agree with your remarks, Allen, and I concede I use this tool
only one or 2 times a year (when needed). It is obviously cautious to
have this ready in the toolbox beside the smoker ...
 
Cheers
 
Jean-Marie