Bees adhering to the inner cover when it is removed are normally knocked off at the hive entrance. Set the inner cover out of the way. Figure 19 . The smoker is handy when it is kept between the knees. As you work the colony, the outer telescoping cover is used to support honey supers.
Bees seal the frames together with propolis at every point of contact.
Pull the first frame slowly out of the hive, look briefly for the queen, and, if she is not on the frame, set it on end against the opposite side of the hive near the entrance. If the queen is on the frame, do not set the frame outside the hive where she may fall to the ground. After removing a single frame, the rest of the frames can be easily removed, examined, and replaced in order. Keeping combs in their original positions is desirable unless you feel a change in order will improve the condition of the colony. Hold the combs above the colony when examining them, with the comb surface vertical.