However, what I’ve heard from a beekeeper is that the smoke triggers a flight response in them (from fire) so they consume honey ready to flee, and that’s actual what makes them docile/drowsy.
I think if it comes to it they just flee, drowsily, with full bellies of honey - so they’ve got energy to fly and something left over to start the new hive.
Beekeepers intentionally use smoke to make bees docile during collection time, transfers, etc
However, what I’ve heard from a beekeeper is that the smoke triggers a flight response in them (from fire) so they consume honey ready to flee, and that’s actual what makes them docile/drowsy.
Pretty shitty instinct if it means they end up sleeping instead of fleeing.
I think if it comes to it they just flee, drowsily, with full bellies of honey - so they’ve got energy to fly and something left over to start the new hive.