In a message dated 97-05-31 02:38:42 EDT, you write: << (Indredients: Water, Acrylic Polymer Titanium Dioxide Ethylene Glycol) It also got very hot over the last 3 days into the low 90's. I am wondering if the combination of new paint and hot temps created fumes that permeated the hive resulting in a large loss of bee population. >> One of the things that was found to be usefull in new construction was baking a new building before moving in. This allows the formaldahydes and plasticisors and paints to outgas. All they do is run the heating system full bore for a few days. Probably the same thing could be achieved by placing the hive bodies in an oven after painting at about 140 or so for a few hours. Or if you are patient letting them sit in the sun for a week or two. I have the same problem getting gear ready for swarms when time gets away from me and I just put them in unpainted gear until I have aged painted woodenware.,