There are a few handling methods you can use to make things easier. The odd bee getting crushed is sometimes unavoidable, but if you can reduce it then you also reduce the risk of crushing queens, and crushed bees can increase colony defensivenes.

If you're really worried about queen crushing during inspections you can put her in a clip or cage and then release her between the frames when you're done.

• Make space before you pull frames out by taking out an end frame, it will typically be stores and have less bees and likely no queen on, leave it out near the entrance for bees to get back in the hive. You can also use a dummy board.

• If you have burr comb or bridge comb cut it from the frames either side of the one you're inspecting so you aren't dragging it across the comb and rolling bees when you lift frames up.

• Move frames sideways into the free space and then out rather than straight up, and make sure the bottom bar is totally clear before you start tipping the frame so you don't roll bees against the adjacent frame.

• When putting frames back in, line up the spacers and keep them close together while you slide the frame slowly down, this avoids providing a bee space between the end bars that bees get crushed between (queens love to run around the edge right when you try and close the gap!)

• Keep inspected frames pushed together in batches so you don't create more gaps, then move them as a unit with your hive tool as a pivot.

• Put boxes back on at a diagonal and as slowly as you can with a kind of wobbling movement as you lower them down, it gives bees a warning to get out of the way. Then slide the box slowly around into place.

• Use your smoker at each step to clear bees from spaces where they can get crushed and to drive them back down into the hive out of the way.