At 10:35 PM 9/7/96 -0700, you wrote: >Bee-listers, > >I posted a message recently about finding a bee vacuum that would remove >bees from difficult places and not pulverize the bees. > >Mike Griggs was kind enough to enlighten me on a system that he uses and >some resources. I have posted his messages to the list with his >permission. > >If anyone has any more leads on a bee vacuum system, please post to the list. > >Paul Cronshaw DC >Cyberchiro and Hobby Beekeeper >Santa Barbara, CA > >------Original Message----- > >X-Sender: [log in to unmask] >Mime-Version: 1.0 >Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 09:59:48 -0400 >To: [log in to unmask] (Paul Cronshaw, D.C.) >From: Mike Griggs <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: Bee removal > >Paul, > >You are right that this is a bit hard on the bees. soft nurse bees are >often hurt. The trade off is that this method does allow for a qick cvlean >up of bees in areas that are hard to get to or to clean up the confusion in >an otherwise difficult situation. I try to use less intrusive methods when >possile. But here are a few tips to reduce insect deaths going into the >vacuum capture box. > >I had to play around with strenghts of the vacuum so I could suck up bees >without accelerating to the point that they slam into the walls and get >hurt. > >I also use a smooth hose to suck up the bees. The corregated hose of the >vacuum is to slow down particle impaction. This causes the bees to bump >and bang all the way to the trap. > >Finally I constructed a cloth trampoline for the bees to bouce onto rather >than a wooden wall. This is just a piece of thin streachy cloth that sill >allows air through and provides a soft landing. > >Hope this helps Mike > >*********** > >X-Sender: [log in to unmask] >Mime-Version: 1.0 >Date: Fri, 6 Sep 1996 09:37:20 -0400 >To: [log in to unmask] (Paul Cronshaw, D.C.) >From: Mike Griggs <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: Bee removal > >Paul, > >Didn't get back to you sooner as I was preparing my truck for annual >inspection. After thirty years, the last eight with extreme salt, it took >longer than expected. > >I have seen vacuum collection devise designs for many insects. Some are >powered by gas enjine,electric motor, or aspiration. The emergence of the >rechargable battery industry offers hope that a truly portable and >efficient method will someday arrise. Imagine a battery operated turbine >that would provide enough power for say a leaf blower, reverse the air >flow to provide enough suction to collect bees in a collection container. >Mobile, quiet, effficient and reusable. > >I currently use an old GE vacuum I pulled from the trash. I was using an >electrolux but my wife lectured me on the use of household utilities in >barns. It really doesn't take to much suction to collect bees. One could >regulate flow by providing a seondary intake orifice with adjustible size. >by increasing the secondary hole the strength of thesuction at the >collection port would be reduced. > >I have seen collector devises in either or both ABJ and Bee Culture. The >idea is not new, it is quite easy and effective one need only to devise a >working soln from available sources. With any operation the quicker the >machinery the higher the chance to cause damage. I often trade the >increase in speed for slightly increase in loss. I expect to loose some >bees especially during a house removal. I loose significantly fewer during >a swarm capture. The trampoline just decreases >my losses. > >Post whatever you would like. Perhaps you would have the time and >initative to come up with a workable plan and post them up for all to see. >Cheers > >Mike > .-~~~-. > / } > / .-~ > \ | } > \.~~-.-~| . -~_ > / \./ \/\ { O | ` .-~. ; ~-.__ > __{^\_ _}_ ) }/^\ ~--~/-|_\| : : .-~ > / /\_/^\._}_/ // / / | \~ - - ~ > ( (__{(@)}\__}.//_/_____/_____|____\_______________ > \__/{/(_)\_} )\\ \\--------------------------------- > ( (__)_)_/ )\ \> Mike Griggs [log in to unmask] > \__/\__/ Entomologist/Support Scientist > > HTTP://www.ppru.cornell.edu/biocontrol/griggs.html > >Call Brushy MT Bee Farm 1-800-beeswax, they had one in their 1992 catalog, I'm sur Steve cal tell where to get on e, If not I have one , Send me your fax and I'll return diagram JRT