> Has anyone knowledge, or experience, of examining colonies of honey bees > under 'red light' conditions. I understand that this can be done with very > little disturbance to the colony. There was a small article in the Speedy Bee sometime in the last six months mentioning that Africanized bees are being managed at night using red light in -- I believe -- Mexico. I paricularly noticed this because I had just mentioned the idea to Dean at Apiaries and Orchards in regards another Swinger I recently bought there. I had asked if anyone ever had red lights installed as well as the normal white ones they install so nicely on the forklifts. He said that, yes, in fact, that a customer who wanted his machine fully decked out had recently done so. I did not order red lights, but plan to get something to put over the lights in some situations. I know that one can buy gels for stage lights in almost any colour, and I would imagine that they would be very efficient. I had been remembering the red cellophane bags that candy came in at Christmas when I was a child and thinking that such a membrane would be ideal - and cheap. When moving strong hives at night, the white lights on a forklift attract quite a few bees under some situations and, if they happen to be near the operator, can result in serious stinging with no warning. We have lights on both the mast and the roll cage. If an operator turns on the lights on the roll cage, it is asking for trouble when lifting hives. They are useful for travel otherwise. There are times when even the more distant lights on the mast cause problems. For tying doen the load, we use the FL lights if there is no moon, and under these circumstances, being close to the hive entrances, red light might be the answer. I'm not sure how well we would work in red light, and, of course colour filters work by removing some of the brilliance of a light source. So, I am not certain that we would have enough illumination for safety if we add filters. There is a limit to how much electricity my gas Swingers will supply with their alternators. They are pretty light duty, electrically. The diesel unit has much more rugged electrical system, and might be able to carry more wattage to compensate for the filters. A well-lit workplace is a safer workplace. FWIW, the ordinary 'sealed beam' brake/backup light replacement units that are designed for installation into rubber grommets and which are used in highway semi units may very well be the exact size to fit nicely into the rubber pot mounts that are currently on my forklift. I have intended to try this idea, and now reminded, will do so today. I've often noticed that at night in a beeyard one can see fairly nicely when someone puts a foot on the brake pedal of a vehicle. For moving bees, this would bee enough light for most purposes, I think. I should also mention that painting bulbs with acrylic paint works quite nicely if you happen to be an artist and have some artists' colours, and Christmas tree lights are available in various reds. Nail poish can work. I've heard that the 'safe' lights that we use in photographic dark rooms are very suitable, and have used such a red bulb in an indoor wintering building. I wonder about the yellow 'bug lights' that are sold for use on porches outside and which are not supposed to attract moths etc. Examining brood is a different matter. I like as much light as possible. Full sunlight is barely enough sometimes. allen http://www.internode.net/HoneyBee/