Hi:
 
Some members of this list have expressed interest in our electronic
hives, equipped with bidirectional bee entrance counters, strain guages
to measure weight changes, temperature and relative humidity probes in
the brood chamber, and hot wire anemometers to measure air flow in the
hive, and clock driven pollen traps.  In addition, our hives are fitted
with chemical sampling equipment for volatile chemicals in the hive atmospheres (sorption tubes and
battery operated pumps).
 
Descriptions of last year's model appear on our web page
http://grizzly.umt.edu/biology/bees.
 
Next week, we hope to conduct the annual migration from Montana to
Maryland.  The trip is 2500 miles - we made it both ways in mid-August last
year.
 
We will be carrying 21 electonic units containing nucleus colonies of
bees, and an additional 16 nucleus colonies for additional chemical sampling.
 
All of this is mounted on a 6x14 ft, dual axle trailer.  All colonies are
certified disease free and have been treated for mites.
 
All units are sealed and bee tight.  Ventilation is provide by a
sysstem of screened louvres and electric fans.  When on the highway, the
fans are off, when stopped, we turn them on to provide additional air
flow to the confined colonies.  An electric pump and drip irrigation
system provides water to the confined bees.  We monitor hive temperatures
as we travel and give the bees water when the core temperatures begin to
climb.
 
Moving bees across the U.S. in mid-summer is not my idea of a fun trip,
but part of the proof of our concept is that we can deliver our
environmental monitoring system anywhere, anytime.
 
Last year we made the trip in 3 1/2 days.  We carried 6 units to Maryland
and returned three weeks later.  Total loss for round trip, about 1 1/2
cup of dead bees per unit - with each unit containing 3-4 pounds of bees.
 
Hopefully we do as well this year.
 
I mention this to the list because of the interest expressed in our
system.  We will be pushing hard to get to MD a.s.a.p.  However, we will
be traveling through lots of states.  Last year some folks met us at
pull-offs from the highway to see and talk about what we have.
 
We have also contemplated stopping for a day mid-way across the country
to let the bees fly.  4 days is a long time to stay confined to a hive.
 
Can't say when we will leave - but I am guessing Wednesday or Thursday.
Arrival in MD early next week.
 
Cheers
 
Jerry Bromenshenk
The University of Montana
 
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406-243-5648