> We were all taught that the use of smoke is necessary and routine.

In most instances we smoke the bees. Week after week of not using smoke 
seems to make the bees aggressive. Been there and done that.

Also few hobby beekeepers have seen the kinds of bee aggression commercial 
beeks at times see. venom sprayed on your face by bees with stingers 
inserted in veils. Better veils than skin I always say!

I have seen commercial beeks trying to desperately light a smoker after 
aggressive bees get going.

I use a metal smoker box mounted under the truck bed (away from fuel tanks). 
I use wood pellets for fuel. I light the pellets with a torch in the morning 
and the smoker burns all day. Always a lit smoker handy.

The above is an idea taken from my friend Gus Rouse (Kona Bee Hawaii).  Gus 
has a line of wood pellet fuel smokers lit each morning for his field crews. 
(over 20 employees I believe).

bob

Ps. friends in Brazil say AHB is easier to work when a flow is not on than 
when the bees are bringing in nectar. Just the opposite I would say of 
European bees.

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