>I helped set bee beard's up before.  They are pretty easy to do.  Go into a
>colony, find the queen, and put her to the side.  Next shake about 1-2lbs.
>of bees into a package and leave them in a cool shaded spot for 12-24 h.
>When your ready to form the bee beard you will either need a queen in a cage
>or some of the queen's mandibular pheromone.  Tie either around the neck of
>the person to be bearded.  The person's ears and nostrils should be plugged
>with cotton to avoid bees crawlsing in either of those holes.  Next, lightly
>rub insect repellent around the eye and mouth areas.  If the person has a
>lot of hair on their head, it should be tied up and put into a hat.  When
>everything has been prepared, bring the package over, shake the bees gently
>onto some cardboard.  Hold the cardboard right up near the person's neck,
>and the bees will begin running towards the queen.  You can tilt the
>cardboard to get the bees onto the neck and face quicker, but done push
>things too much.  Once all the bees are of you should have something that
>looks like a beard (mine looked like a messy goh-tee).  I can't quite
>remember how to get the bees off.  Perhaps the queen (we used pheromone) is
>taken off first, and then person with the beard stands over a box and takes
>a great big hard jump up and down in the air.  Most of the bees will drop
>off the beard and into the box.  Jump backwards for 10-15 meters until most
>of the bees are off.  Put the bees back in the colony they came from.
>
>If you are going to do this for a big event go through a dry run.  Make sure
>everyone knows what to do well ahead of time.  Don't forget to take pictures
>and enjoy the feat.
>
>At 07:21 AM 6/22/97 -0400, you wrote:
>>Hi, I wrote earlier about our St. Ambrose Summer Celebration and want to
>>thank all of those who shared information about St Ambrose.  I've got my
>>husband talked into doing a bee beard that day. Is there anyone out there
>>who has actual experience with the best way to perform this feat. We could
>>use some tips. Happy Summer Soltice everyone!     Sharon
>>
>>*Kirk Jones/ Sleeping Bear Apiaries /971 S. Pioneer Rd./Beulah,MI 49617
>>*Sharon Jones/ BeeDazzled Candleworks /6289 River Rd./ Benzonia, MI 49616
>>                        e-mail   [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>***********************************
>** Adony P. Melathopoulos *********
>*** Center for Pest Management ****
>**** Simon Fraser University ******
>***** Burnaby, British Columbia ***
>****** Canada, V5A-1S6 ************
>***********************************
>
>Tel : (604) 291-4163
>Fax : (604) 291-3496
>e-mail : [log in to unmask]
>
>"The pursuit of agriculture promotes the strength of the mind
> as well as the body"
>         - Rev. John L. Blake, 1853
 
 
Thanks for the tips. I will be doing the demo on Sat. for my wife's St.
Ambrose day fest.
 
*Kirk Jones/ Sleeping Bear Apiaries /971 S. Pioneer Rd./Beulah,MI 49617
*Sharon Jones/ BeeDazzled Candleworks /6289 River Rd./ Benzonia, MI 49616
                        e-mail   [log in to unmask]