>> We smoke bees so we can work colonies and smoke is CO2, just like our breath. Shouldn't that trigger aggression? It does the opposite. I hope you don't mean that. Smoke and animal exhalation are not the same, and barely similar. Simply because they share one component doesn't make them the same. Otherwise you could say that humans and oil are the same because they are largely carbon based, and we quite obviously are not oil. Smoke is a distinct thing, something that over millions of years the bees have come to associate with fire, and a potention danger that may require vacating the home suddenly and triggers a flight preparation response. Breath on the other hand is associated with an animal intruder and the bees whether only slightly or agressively repsond to this threat. The response is the same 'defense', whether it is slight and the bees move out of the way or a severe mass attack. Obviously other stress factor can contribute to added defensiveness such as queenlessness or perhaps an approaching front, but the response is the same, just a different grade of defense. -- Scot Mc Pherson The Mc Pherson Family Honey Farms Bradenton, Florida USA Davenport, Iowa USA -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---