Okay, I’m filing this under “infrequently asked questions,” but about five years ago my doctor asked me this exact question and I’ve been mulling over it ever since. I’ve never actually seen anyone fill a smoker with marijuana, but that doesn’t mean anything. And the doctor was from Texas, which probably explains everything.
I find it amazing that so many beekeepers use a smoker. It’s even referred to as the “beekeeper’s best friend.” But the day I gave mine up was the best beekeeping day of my life. So what’s wrong with a smoker?
For starters, it makes me sneeze. I’ve tried all kinds of fuel, including burlap, sisal twine, wood chips, and smoker pellets, but they all make me miserable. Also, I don’t have enough hands to manipulate the smoker, the hive tool, the lid, and whatever else I have with me. While klutzing around with it, I’ve ignited brush fires, scorched wooden equipment, burned holes in my bee suit, blistered my fingers, and killed a lot of worker bees. Half the time I forget to bring something to light it with, and the rest of the time I can’t get it lit regardless of which incendiary device I use. And once it’s lit, it always goes out before I’m done.
Then there’s the question of the honey. When exposed to smoke, bees tend to fill up on honey. This is the very thing that “calms” them down. To get the honey they will tear open sealed comb, if necessary, and make a mess of it. If you are trying to produce comb honey, a smoke-crazed bee is the last thing you want. Sometimes, too, flecks of ash can land on the comb, or the comb takes on the smell and/or taste of burned fuel. For those producing extracted honey or just pollinating, these honeycomb problems are pretty much a non-issue. But like I say, how you keep bees is very dependent on what you’re trying to accomplish.
In any case, if you don’t want to use a smoker, then don’t. The bees can be a bit irritating at times, but you get used to them, or you can spray them with a light mist of sugar syrup. I find the bees way less annoying than the smoker, and going without means fewer distractions in the field as well. So, while I don’t know why beekeepers are so addicted to their smokers, maybe the good doctor was onto something.
Rusty
Hello and thank you for thinking outside the box!
I am not beekeeping and have no experience with bees. However there is a huge feral hive nearby that I would like to harvest from. Would you think it would be safe for me to harvest without a smoker without experience or familiarity with this hive if I go slow? The hive is very well exposed at least. It is hanging from an eve.
I think you should call a beekeeper to help you. Someone with protective equipment should be the one to examine the hive. Also, you don’t say where you live. But if you live in an area where Africanized honey bees live, approaching the hive could be very dangerous.
See if you can find a local beekeeper club. You can probably get a beekeeper to help you for free.
Also, I’ve been looking and looking online but I have found no guidance on how to discern which combs contain honey!
The same beekeeper who helps you with the hive can show you the difference between brood (developing bees) and honey. It’s kind of hard to see it in photos–much easier if someone shows you.
Okay, I live on Guam; I highly doubt there would be any Africanized bees here. And the hive is in a very populated area and has been there for ages — it must not be aggressive I figure. But I don’t want to be stupid. I guess I could ask the one beekeeper here. There are no clubs. I was just reluctant to do that because I don’t know if I would still get to score honey as I don’t know what his whole attitude will be. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!!
Maybe you could share the honey with him. Or maybe you could become the second beekeeper in the area. You sound like you might like it!
I am watching a special about the disappearance of the honey bees. The first thing that came to mind was the smoker. I have no experience with beekeeping, so it was just a thought. The owner said he smoked a healthy hive and 3 hours later the worker bees had abandoned the queen and eggs. I found what you wrote very interesting. I get a lot of enjoyment from learning new things. I just wanted to say thank you. I wish I could afford to leave a donation.
I’m so glad to read that I don’t *have* to use a smoker! After all of the fires here in Eastern WA I’m terrified of using one. It seems insane to go out to a dry, grassy field spewing unscreened smoke that could easily have hot ash in it. I think the risk is way too high. One beekeeper in the area left his smoker in his truck and his truck burned up. My friends’ house burned down because of a spark on the road. Even the remotest chance of starting a fire is not worth it.
And earlier this year I burned a hole in a picnic table. Thought the smoker was out.
I have a bumble bee colony in a pump room wall. Currently I am using marijuana incense (incense infused with marijuana) I lit 4 of them and closed the door. They don’t like it. I’m trying to get them to leave. They want to attack when I read the meters. These are meters that must be read and logged on a daily basis and they (the bees) don’t like me to do that. . .
I used a vape machine to pump marijuana smoke through a pencil sized hole in the wall at my house, to get rid of bats. Filling the wall with smoke, I should have notified my neighbor first. When they saw smoke coming from the roof, they called the fire department. When the firefighters got here, they called the sheriff because of all the pot smoke. The sheriff came and had to ask the firefighters to stand away from the smoke. The sheriff said I was not smoking marijuana, but then I was. He just said next time tell the neighbors. Oh, and the bats are gone.
I’ll let you know if the incense deters the bumble bees.
Peace
Ed Hart
Ed,
Yes! Please let us know!
A. I. Root wrote this in the 1917 ABC & XYZ:
There are four inventions that revolutionized the methods of work with bees, and which really form the basis of all modern methods of management today. First and foremost was the invention of movable frames by L. L. Langstroth in 1851. Next followed the invention of comb foundation by J. Mehring, in 1857. The next was the invention of the honey extractor, by Major Francisco Hruschka, in 1865.
The fourth important invention is the bee-smoker. Moses Quinby was the inventor of the bellows bee-smoker, which he brought out in 1875. The modern bee-smoker is almost as indispensable as an extractor and movable frames; for without smoke, applied by means of a convenient instrument, the work of handling bees would be disagreeable if not impossible at times.
Without smoke, many manipulations would be very difficult, and the novice, at least, would be inclined to give up the business after his first experience in trying to handle a colony of bees, especially if weather conditions were unfavorable.
Hi Rusty!
Thank you so much for sharing your passion, knowledge & insights.
I used to smoke my bees with cannabis. I set up & tended a hive next to my cannabis garden, where the bees & I spent a lot of time together. I filmed them, sometimes sitting in front of the entrance to the hive with my video camera on a tripod. The returning bees would hover behind me, waiting for me to move. I was never stung. Not one time. My friend, a master beekeeper like yourself, was amazed that the bees were so tolerant of me. I begin my film trailer (at the link above) with my favorite clip. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Blest wishes!
Paul
Hey Paul my name is Sarah. New to beeking! I didn’t see the link I also use cannabis as a means to smoke my bees. I would love to view your footage and notes if you have any. Looking forward to hearing from you!
I consume clean burlap in my smokers more often than not. I have additionally consumed pine needles, old sovereign enclosures, and dried grass. The general purpose isn’t to put anything harmful into your smoker like treated wood, sleek clothes, or plastic. You are after a cool white smoke, not something like a consuming tire.
I like burlap as it will light with a match and it keeps going for some time. In any event, when consuming something different, it actually makes a decent starter. At the point when you puff smoke at your honey bees ensure you are not shooting flares out of the finish of your smoker, this can adversely affect your honey bees. Likewise be certain not to over smoke them as this might make them more protective and at least, will upset your hive more.
Regardless of what you consume in your smoker, it will make creosote. At the point when this develops it can make it truly difficult to get the cover off your smoker. On the off chance that you take a propane light and hotness up the cover, it will fall off without any problem. Try to open your smoker while it’s as yet hot and not seal it firmly. Cleaning it sometimes is likewise an alternative.
So when I work with my honey bees I generally have a lit smoker with me. Permit your honey bees to let you know how much smoke to utilize. In case they are quiet, utilize less, in case they are protective, utilize more.
Can you use cannabis leaves to smoke out bees?
Jaco,
I suppose you could, if they’re dry enough, but I don’t see the point.
The concept of beekeepers using marijuana smoke to calm bees is certainly attention-grabbing, but it’s important to clarify that it’s not a recommended or standard practice in beekeeping. Bees are sensitive creatures, and introducing foreign substances could harm them. Traditional smoker materials like pine straw or cotton are used for hive inspections, proven to be safe and effective. It’s crucial to prioritize responsible beekeeping practices that ensure the well-being of both bees and beekeepers, rather than experimenting with unconventional methods.
https://ozarmour.co/en-eu/blogs/news/the-science-behind-beekeeping-smokers-how-smoke-affects-honeybees
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