Randy
 
Killing a colony involves:
 
1) beekeeper safety -  reason cyanide was banned, I know   personally of 
beekeepers and in one case a beekeeper's dog that either had a  close call or 
didn't survive the exposure.  Agree with the comment  about using ether - 
too easy to forget that a hot smoker will set it off.   And some of the 
solvents are carcinogens.
 
2) Humane - alcohol, acetone, sulfur - bees die, but take some time, and  
show obvious signs of severe distress.  Try a drop of acetone or alcohol on  
A bee, she'll flop all around.
 
3) Cold, C02 or dry ice, Nitrous Oxide all put bees to sleep (  more 
humane).  Liquid nitrogen   acts really fast, but expensive  and can freeze the 
beekeepers fingers and toe, and don't splash in the  eye.
 
Whether you can buy dry ice in grocery store depends on  the state.  Easy 
to get in most any grocery in MT, but  practically impossible to find in more 
restrictive states that  have LOTs of rules about human safety.
 
4) Suffication and/or heat prostration - works, can't say whether its  
humane, probably not if you can ask the bee.  Wrap in plastic on hot day,  
they'll be dead quick.
 
5) Soapy water (seems not to cause too much distress) - recommended for  
fire departments dealing with trucks that tip over.
 
Jerry

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at:
http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm