Replacing boxes

Replace boxes without harming bees

Wax on the upper aspect of the frames

Wax must be removed from the tops of the frames before replacing a box, even though this is disruptive. Bees like sitting on the top bars, particularly if breaking open the inner cover has exposed some honey. If you don’t remove the wax and crud the roof won’t fit, and you’ll end up with robbing, a patchwork of stuck bees and a worse task on your next inspection.

Squashing bees is a problem with poly hives as the walls are so thick

It's important to understand that squashing bees can have a significant impact on the colony. If you squash enough, the colony will become bad-tempered. Squished bees create a gap between the box walls, and the bees waste their time filling this with propolis. This not only disrupts their routine, but also affects their overall productivity. While a few squashed bees may not cause much harm, it's unpleasant. The picture demonstrates how bad it can be.

Make a point of nudging bees out of the way when repelacing the frames carefully when replacing frames.

propolis on the wall of a hive

Ways to prevent armdegedon

  1. Spray water

  2. Slide

  3. Smoke

Spraying water

Use water sparing. In hot weather, water may do no harm. In cool weather, it must cause the bees a considerable amount of work. However it is definitely the most successful method. A hairdresser’s sprayer does not deliver enough water to displace bees. Although some people use it instead of smoke. Use as little as you can:

  1. Spray just the tops of the walls.

  2. In addition, spray the frames adjacent to the walls.

  3. Spray a fine drizzle over the top of the hive

The sprayer on the left is pressurised by pump priming it using the top knob. Hairdressers’ sprayers deliver a fine mist and are not sturdy.

two types of water-sprayers

Sliding

You can slide the top box over the bottom until it is about to drop, then puff smoke around the edges at an angle. If you puff directly at the bees, they buzz around, uncertain where to go. Agitated bees keep popping out, so with wide walls, it is ineffective, but it's better than nothing. Nudge them out of the way like this:

Lower the top box so that it is about one bee space away from the lower box; thus, the bees have an impetus to get out of the way. Then, slide the nearside outer part half of the upper box edge inwards to push any bees off the inner section of the wall. Ditto the other walls. By this time, the bees on the outer section of the walls will have departed so that the top can be dropped into position. It helps, but I often hear a crunch.

Dense smoke.

Smoke is effective, but must disturb colony function for at least a few hours. Mind you, the upset may be just as severe as using a moderate amount of smoke. I’ve read that a deft, short inspection does not hammer the colony’s dynamics.

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