Bee-listers,
 
I posted a message recently about finding a bee vacuum that would remove
bees from difficult places and not pulverize the bees.
 
Mike Griggs was kind enough to enlighten me on a system that he uses and
some resources.  I have posted his messages to the list with his
permission.
 
If anyone has any more leads on a bee vacuum system, please post to the list.
 
Paul Cronshaw DC
Cyberchiro and Hobby Beekeeper
Santa Barbara, CA
 
------Original Message-----
 
X-Sender: [log in to unmask]
Mime-Version: 1.0
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 09:59:48 -0400
To: [log in to unmask] (Paul Cronshaw, D.C.)
From: Mike Griggs <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Bee removal
 
Paul,
 
You are right that this is a bit hard on the bees.  soft nurse bees are
often hurt.  The trade off is that this method does allow for a qick cvlean
up of bees in areas that are hard to get to or to clean up the confusion in
an otherwise difficult situation.  I try to use less intrusive methods when
possile.  But here are a few tips to reduce insect deaths going into the
vacuum capture box.
 
I had to play around with strenghts of the vacuum so I could suck up bees
without accelerating to the  point that they slam into the walls and get
hurt.
 
I also use a smooth hose to suck up the bees.  The corregated hose of the
vacuum is to slow down particle impaction.  This causes the bees to bump
and bang all the way to the trap.
 
Finally I constructed a cloth trampoline for the bees to bouce onto rather
than a wooden wall.  This is just a piece of thin streachy cloth that sill
allows air through and provides a soft landing.
 
Hope this helps  Mike
 
***********
 
X-Sender: [log in to unmask]
Mime-Version: 1.0
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 1996 09:37:20 -0400
To: [log in to unmask] (Paul Cronshaw, D.C.)
From: Mike Griggs <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Bee removal
 
Paul,
 
Didn't get back to you sooner as I was preparing my truck for annual
inspection.  After thirty years, the last eight with extreme salt, it took
longer than expected.
 
I have seen vacuum collection devise designs for many insects.  Some are
powered by gas enjine,electric motor, or aspiration.  The emergence of the
rechargable battery industry offers hope that a truly portable and
efficient method will someday arrise.  Imagine a battery operated turbine
that would provide enough power for say a leaf blower,  reverse the air
flow to provide enough suction to collect bees in a collection container.
Mobile, quiet, effficient and reusable.
 
I currently use an old GE vacuum I pulled from the trash.  I was using an
electrolux but my wife lectured me on the use of household utilities in
barns.  It really doesn't take to much suction to collect bees.  One could
regulate flow by providing a seondary intake orifice with adjustible size.
by increasing the secondary hole the strength of thesuction at the
collection port would be reduced.
 
I have seen collector devises in either or both ABJ and Bee Culture.  The
idea is not new, it is quite easy and effective one need only to devise a
working soln from available sources.  With any operation the quicker the
machinery the higher the chance to cause damage.  I often trade the
increase in speed for slightly increase in loss.  I expect to loose some
bees especially during a house removal.  I loose significantly fewer during
a swarm capture.  The trampoline just decreases
my losses.
 
Post whatever you would like.  Perhaps you would have the time and
initative to come up with a workable plan and post them up for all to see.
Cheers
 
Mike
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               (   (__)_)_/  )\ \> Mike Griggs [log in to unmask]
                \__/\__/      Entomologist/Support Scientist
 
               HTTP://www.ppru.cornell.edu/biocontrol/griggs.html