The following two statements have been made so far: >> 10,000 bees per kilo... > 3,500 bees to the pound is the standard > figure used by all parties in the U.S... 1 kilo is 2.2 pounds or so, so the two estimates are far from being in agreement. If there are 10,000 bees per kilo, then there should be 4,500 bees per pound. (0.45 * 10,000) = 4,500 On the other hand, if there are 3,500 bees per pound, then there should be 7,700 bees per kilo. (2.2 * 3,500) = 7,700 Perhaps the difference is due to a failure to account for the fanning action of some fraction of the bees, which (as a result of lift caused by such wing action) would make the same number of bees weigh less than one might otherwise expect. :) There is also work afoot at MAAREC (The Mid-Atlantic Apicultural Research and Extension Co-Op) to try and develop standards for "how many bees in a jar" when one is doing a sugar roll or (much more depressing) ether roll. It seems that everyone's estimate of "300 bees" is subject to massive revision when their estimate is actually counted. The apparent end result of this still ongoing work will be to encourage the use of measurements like "a half cup" or a "quarter cup" of bees, as volume appears to be a more reliable measure than a guess at a number of bees in a jar. Clearly a mite count from a "roll" would be more useful if the sample of bees contained a more consistent number of bees. But other questions arise, such as: a) "How big is a jar?" (900 Jars = 1 micro-Farad) b) "How many lids in a jar?" (This unit of measure was last used in Haight-Ashbury in the 1960s, and while it depends on the size of the jar, it only serves to define the age of the person asking the question.) c) If you leave bees in a jar long enough, will you be able to get rid of your extractor? d) Why have beekeepers not adopted plastic for use in such applications? Tupperware, perhaps? jim :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::