This keeps the bees under control and out of the way so few bees are killed. Once the cover or a hive body is lifted up, remove it without letting it back down in place. In this way you crush fewer bees and alarm the colony less. Work the bees when they are flying, on clear warm days between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. During this period most of the old bees are in the field gathering nectar or pollen.
Bees are easiest to handle when there is a nectar flow.
Figure 17 . Before opening a colony of bees, blow smoke into the hive entrance and all other cracks and openings. Figure 18 . Additional smoke is blown under the outer telescoping cover as the colony is opened. After removing the outer telescoping cover, place it underside up, on the ground close beside you near the hive.