>WHat devices are there for capturing swarms from high locations?
>
>I remember reading in Bee Culture about a swarm capture technique using
>some long poles and a plastic garbage bag.
 
I have not tried this but...... I purchased a bunch of miscellaneous
equipment from a beekeeper who had shut down and in the purchase I received
a swarm catcher.  The dissadvantage is that it runs on electricity but I
will try to explain it anyway.  It is a small vacuum cleaner attached to a
box that is just large enough for a super and on which the lid seals well.
On one end of this box there is a hole onto which is attached a long vacuum
hose.  The hole has a piece of leather covering it on the inside as a
one-way-trap.  The air comes in the hose, through the sealed box and into
the vaccuum, leaving the bees in the box.
 
If power was available I suspect that the end of the hose could be carried
up a ladder or simply fastened to a long pole and raised to the swarm to
simply vacuum the bees into the containment box.
 
Most of the swarms I come upon are a long way from electricity but once in
awhile there are some problem bees near a house so I look forward to trying
this device.
 
Eric
 
Eric Abell
Gibbons, Alberta Canada
(403) 998 3143
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