What is a recommended method for removing bees from honey supers?

The most effective and recommended method for removing bees from honey supers is to use smoke to calm the bees. When smoke is introduced, it masks alarm pheromones released by the bees and triggers a natural instinct to consume honey in preparation for a potential relocation due to a fire. This calming effect allows beekeepers to work with the bees more safely and effectively, making it easier to gently remove the honey supers without causing excessive disturbance to the colony.

While shaking the supers to dislodge bees can seem like a viable option, it can be stressful for the bees and might lead to injury or death. Additionally, using bee repellants is generally not advisable. Many repellants can be harmful to the bees or affect the quality of the honey. Finally, sealing the supers and moving them is not a practical approach since it would not effectively reduce the bee population from the supers in a timely manner. Thus, utilizing smoke stands out as the most humane and efficient method to handle bees in honey supers.