The use of smoke is a time-tested practice in beekeeping, often leaving new observers wondering about its effect on the colony’s health. The answer to whether smoke kills bees is generally no, provided the smoke is cool and applied properly. Beekeepers employ this gentle application of smoke to manage and inspect hives without provoking a defensive response from the insects. Understanding the science behind the smoker explains why this tool is considered essential for both the beekeeper and the honeybee colony.
How Smoke Affects Bee Behavior
Smoke functions by triggering a two-part, instinctual response in honeybees, overriding their defensive programming. The first mechanism involves sensory confusion, where smoke particles interfere with the bees’ olfactory communication system. Guard bees release an alarm pheromone (isopentyl acetate) to alert the hive when sensing an intruder. The presence of smoke masks this chemical signal, preventing the localized alarm from escalating into a defensive swarm.
The second, more visible reaction is known as the “gorging response,” which is an evolutionary survival instinct. Bees interpret the smell of smoke as a potential environmental threat, such as a wildfire, signaling the need to abandon the hive. They immediately begin to consume large amounts of honey from their storage cells in preparation for possible evacuation.
This gorging action reduces the bees’ ability to sting effectively. As the bee’s abdomen distends with honey, it becomes difficult for the insect to curl its body into the position needed to deploy its stinger. The full stomach shifts the colony’s priority from defense to resource preservation, making the bees temporarily less agitated and more docile. This effect is temporary, and the bees’ sensitivity to pheromones returns within 10 to 20 minutes after the smoke dissipates.
The Practical Use of Smoke in Beekeeping
The primary goal of using a smoker is to promote a calm environment for hive maintenance and inspection. Beekeepers gently disrupt the bees’ communication and activate the gorging instinct, transforming an aggressive colony into a docile one. This temporary docility allows the beekeeper to open the hive, remove frames, and conduct health checks without causing excessive stress or mass stinging.
The type and quality of the smoke are important for achieving the desired calming effect. Beekeepers use a specialized smoker loaded with natural, untreated materials that smolder slowly. These fuels are chosen because they generate a thick, cool, white smoke.
Preferred fuels include:
- Dry pine needles.
- Untreated wood shavings.
- Burlap.
- Cotton fibers.
The technique involves puffing a minimal quantity of cool smoke, typically just a few gentle whiffs, at the hive entrance before opening the lid. This careful application signals a threat without causing actual harm or panic. Once the hive is open, an occasional, light puff of smoke across the tops of the frames helps keep the bees settled during the inspection. The controlled use of smoke reduces the likelihood of defensive stinging, which is beneficial since a worker bee dies after stinging.
When Smoke Becomes Harmful or Lethal
While correctly applied smoke is not harmful, improper use can cause injury or death to the colony. The most immediate danger is excessive heat, which can scorch the wings and bodies of the bees. If the fuel is burning with an open flame or producing hot, thin smoke instead of cool, white smoke, it will agitate the bees and cause physical damage. Beekeepers must ensure the smoker is properly lit and smoldering before approaching the hive.
A second major risk comes from using toxic or chemically treated fuel sources. Burning synthetic materials releases poisonous fumes that can weaken or kill the bees and contaminate the honey and wax. Beekeepers are advised to use only clean, natural, and untreated organic materials to safeguard the health of their colony.
Synthetic materials to avoid include:
- Plastics.
- Rubber.
- Cardboard treated with glues.
- Inks or pesticides.
Finally, prolonged or excessive exposure to smoke can also be detrimental. Pumping too much smoke into a confined hive can cause confusion, agitation, or, in extreme cases, lead to oxygen deprivation and suffocation. The goal is to use the least amount of smoke necessary to manage the colony, recognizing that it is a temporary disruption of the bees’ normal function.