What is a Bee Smoker and why is it important?

Bee smokers are one the most crucial techniques that help beekeepers to perform the hive inspection without causing harm to the bees. During hive inspections, bees often tend to release an alarm pheromone called isopentyl acetate from the gland near their stingers when they sense danger. This chemical alters other bees in the hive to be ready to attack the intruder. Smoke can calm down bees during the hive inspections and safeguard both beekeepers and bees in the process.

If you are planning to harvest beehives in your home or plan to inspect a beehive near your surroundings, then you must consider using the bee smoke technique to stay safe throughout the process. However, if you are new to this process and wish to learn more about the same then we are here to help you. In this article, we have mentioned some of the essential and prominent factors about bee smokers that we believe you should be aware of. So without wasting any time further, let’s explore this article.

What is a bee smoker?

A bee smoker is a metal device that consists of three main parts including the bellow, nozzle, and fire chamber. The bee smoker device interferes with the smell senses of bees so that they don’t react to the alarm pheromone during the hive inspection. This device is not harmful to bees or to their honey-making process. The bellow part of the smoker is attached to the fire chamber that allows the beekeepers to restrict the flow of oxygen so that they can keep the smoker lit and control the smoke for a long period of time. To release the smoke all you need to do is squeeze the below to get a puff of smoke from the nozzle.

Why do beekeepers smoke bee hives?

You must have come across people saying that smoke makes bees sleepy. However, the smoke only masks the bee’s alarm pheromone and restricts them from attacking the beekeeper. The smoke also disrupts the senses of the bees so that they can not communicate with each other during the process. Therefore this way it becomes extremely easy for beekeepers to operate without getting injured by bees or harming them during the process. It is also important to note that as long as the smoke is not too hot it cannot cause any harm to the bees or the hives. You must make sure to puff some smoke on your hand to check whether it is cool to touch or not.

What type of smoke do beekeepers use?

The smoke used by beekeepers usually comes from a variety of fuel sources such as burlap, wood pellets, twigs, pine needles, and many more. The smoke that produces a chemical smell can be harmful to bees. Therefore if you come across an acrid smell when you light your smoker then you must consider changing your fuel. Along with that, you must also make sure not to use synthetic materials or bleached paper for smoke as it can irritate the bees and cause some serious harm. One of the best ways to find fuel for your smoker is by simply purchasing the one from the store. Making your own smoke can cost you less but can be extremely dangerous for bees, especially if you have not done your research well.

How to smoke your hive?

If this is your first time using a bee smoker then it is vital that you make your bees feel safe during the inspection process. Here we have listed some of the top tips that you must consider while smoking your beehive

You are most likely to run out of fuel in the middle of the inspection if you don’t pack plenty of fuel into your smoker. You must make sure to keep plenty of fuel-ready beforehand.

At the entrance, you can puff a bit of smoke to check the temperature of the smoke and let bees know that you are coming.

Smoke can only block the senses of bees, therefore you must be alert during the process so that you don’t get yourself bitten by the bees.

Don’t use much smoke if you are not inspecting a particularly aggressive bee colony. This will upset the neighboring bee colony and can also invite more danger towards you.

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