Bee suits are worn before visiting an apiary for protection during harvesting. A smoker is then used in smoking bees so that they don‘t get too aggressive when working especially during the day.
The first thing to do is to smoke the hive before opening it. Smoking the hive distracts the bees and kills the pheromones of the bees so that incase they start stinging around, pheromones do not get too much. A bee suit protects because bees are aggressive and they sting to unleash venom that react with the body and for some people, you swell or can even kill. . It‘s always good to use things like wood shavings, dried grass, dried twigs, dried leaves when lighting a smoker.
Hive components
A langstroth bee hive consists of two compartments. The upper box called a super box and the lower box called a brood box. At the entrance is an equipment used to trap pollen. The super box is used to store honey for the bees and the brood box is the home for bees where their development happens.
A propolis trap is placed at the top and is used to collect propolis and the propolis is then scrapped off. The frames is space where bees build combs and combs are where bees store honey.
Hive opening
A hive tool is used to open the hive. Once bees settle in a hive, they use propolis to seal off any opening or moveable part in a hive hence the lid is usually very intact and sealed with the super box. The top part is smoked once the hive is opened.
In the lower box, you will find the combs. The combs provides space where bees put honey and provides space where the queen lays eggs.
Harvesting
Honey that is capped is harvested. This means that the honey looks like it is sealed on the comb. Once the whole comb is sealed it means that honey has moisture content that extracted and stored, it will never ferment. Moisture content of at least 20% and below is ready for harvesting honey.
