I recently learned that after a colony extraction, the wall, or void or whatever, is sprayed down with vinegar to "neutralize" the area. Does anyone know the scientific explanation for this? We know that vinegar is the acid. What inside is the base?
Some use vinegar others use vanilla extract, in my experience the vanilla extract has a longer "shelf" life when it comes to masking the bees odors, be it used during a combine, a cut out, or requeening. Vinegar will alter the smell of the bees but not mask it completely.
But the best prevention against another swarm taking up residence after a cut out is to fill the cavity with insolation and seal it up real good wth caulking.
Interesting. I thought it had to do with a chemical reaction. I've seen JP use Fischer's Bee Quick in his You Tube videos - a.k.a. , almond extract - to quickly vacate the area after all the comb was removed. It seem to work great. But vinegar? I can't see it.