>> Date sent:      Fri, 27 Jan 1995 10:02:06 -0800
>> From:           Bill Fernihough <[log in to unmask]>
>> Subject:        RE>Re- Painting Queen?-
>>
>>  I might add that some brands of correcting fluid were actually
>>  quite dangerous to humans too.
 
>    Re the correcting fluid and the field day: 3 or 4 people at a time were
>    practicing marking drones and workers. After marking, the bees would fly
>    away. But soon people started noticing the marked bees lying on their
>    backs, wings buzzing but legs in the air. Some of these bees died. The
>    brand of correcting fluid was different from that found satisfactory
>    earlier. I think perhaps the bad fluid was the one made for photo copies
>    (a different solvent).
>
>    So before you try correcting fluid to mark a valuable queen, practice on
>    some expendable bees, and make sure they aren't harmed.
>
>    Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist
>    B.C. Ministry of Agriculture
>    1201 103 Ave
>    Dawson Creek B.C.
>         V1G 4J2  CANADA          Tel (604) 784-2225     fax (604) 784-2299
>    INTERNET [log in to unmask]
 
I wholeheartedly agree.  I did, and still do endorse the use of a
particular brand of correcting fluid available in SA (Tippex) for
this purpose, based on my experience.  I have found that other
methods which work for other people don't work for me.  I personally
find model paints too fiddly and messy for field work.  The solvent
in this correcting fluid (1.1.1 trichloroethane) is known to be very
dangerous.  It was thus with considerable care that we tried this
method.  However, it appears to me that the solvent evaporates
rapidly enough to cause no apparent damage.
 
I would welcome debate on this matter.  All advice is given on the
best _available_ information.  However, the available information
changes from day to day, and I am also quite likely to have missed
something of which I should have been aware.  In this spirit, I would
like to hear whether anyone has had bad experiences, and if so, what
solvents are likely to be the cause.
 
Regards
        Paul
Paul Magnuson                             [log in to unmask]
Honeybee Research Unit                    Plant Protection Res. Inst.
Agricultural Research Council.            Private Bag X134
Tel. (012) 319 7113, Fax (012) 323 5275   Pretoria 0001 South Africa