Guilfordbeekeepers.org

I need to move my bees next week. If they are moved in cold temps do they still need to be smoked when loading them?

I would put my moving screen on when it is cold and the bees are not flying or just after dark after they are back in the hive. If they are not on the landing board or outside the hive I don't see any need to smoke them. When I moved hives in warm weather, I waited until dark and the foragers were back. A minimal amount of smoke got the bees on the landing board to go back in the hive. I put my moving screen on, my ratchet strap around the hive, loaded up and went.