>> 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