Hate to disagree with such an expert, but  I often work my bees in
shorts and a t-shirt with no smoke.  The secret is genetics and moving
very slowly (I think). I also pipe some sugar/pollen substitute/
vegetable oil mix onto the top bars before I start digging in.  All
those little faces chowing down (and fooling those tracheal mites).!
I've never had more than 50 hives so I can make time to go slow.
Wouldn't work for big commercial folks.  Sure is cooler tho, and I just
love watching the queen lay eggs on a frame I'm holding!  Carolyn in SC

Roger White wrote:

>This is not the first time that this has been brought up on this list.  Anyone who tries to open hives without the use of smoke is asking for trouble.  They only have themselves to blame for any resulting ''incidents''.
>
>
>

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