Pete said:

"They're nuts, and beekeepers that open hives without smoke are nuts too."

I don't find this to be a constructive comment.

There are beekeepers who use sugar water instead of smoke to calm their bees and reduce their tendency to fly.

There are beekeepers who care how many bees are killed when they get in and out of hives.   Pete, having watched you manage hives, I wouldn't say you are one of those.  If in fact "bees eating bees" turns out to be a cause for concern vis-a-vis transmission of viruses and other problems, then your technique will need some refinement.

Commercial beekeepers are concerned about time management more than hobbyists, so smoking is definitely the way to go for them.  Hobbyists have bees often (not always) because they like to spend time with their bees.  If they do it without smoke, they aren't "nuts", they're having fun and their technique works for them.  Calling such folks "nuts" shows a lack of both perspective and imagination.

Christina

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html