Beekeepers often use smokers when working colonies. We believe the smoke masks alarm pheromones that are released by guard bees thus reducing "the call to defend the colony". Also, maybe the bees think a forest fire is approaching as they will go to open cells and fill their stomach with honey making them less inclined to sting. Whatever, the scientific answers may be, using smoke properly can result in a more pleasant hive inspection for the beekeeper and the bees with no or very little detrimental effects for the colony. A variety of materials are used by beekeepers for fuel: commercial smoker fuel, burlap, wood shavings, pithy wood, paper, dried sumac seed heads etc. For local beekeepers in my area (upstate South Carolina) dried pine needles are the fuel of choice. They are free, easy to collect and produce a cool dry smoke. I keep an old bucket with a hinged lid and periodically (after a few days with no rain) I will ride my ATV over in the woods and scratch up dry pine needles. Don't dig down deep and get into the damp duff layer - just skim the dry ones from the top. You will have great natural fuel for many hours among the bees.
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