if you have to ask that question, then you should be opening up a beehive instead of in front of a computer. haha.
let me make a distinction between using smoke/versus no smoke. when I do not use smoke, the bees ignore me and go about their business. I don't think this sets them back at all, or very little.
smoke is a different story, all stop what they were doing and respond to the smoke. this may set them back an afternnon or a day.
[ April 18, 2006, 12:03 PM: Message edited by: FordGuy ]