Dont Kill Those Bees!
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From: Michigan
Dont Kill Those Bees!
Ok,I was reading Bruker`s thread about a swarm of bees and thought I would make a thread to inform those who didnt know about a serious bee problem we have here in the U.S. right now.And anybody that reads this and can add a link to bee info,please feel free to do so.
Most people freak out when they see a swarm of bees.You would not believe how many times our fire department has been called out to (kill) a swarm of bees that were in somebodies attic,or tree,etc.We used to spray foam on them and it would eliminate the problem on the spot.But,not any more.We were informed that there is a major problem occurring in the U.S. with the decline of bees.This is a very serious problem and affects ALL of us.Bees are the main source of pollination.They pollinate farmers crops,fruit trees,flowers,and if we loose them,how will we get major orchards and large crops pollinated?So,please keep this in mind if you see a swarm of bees,if they are bothering you,call a bee keeper,he will be glad to come and get them.I posted this thread in hopes that helping to inform everybody about this problem,it would make people more eager to grab the phone,and less tempted to grab the wasp and bee spray!
Most people freak out when they see a swarm of bees.You would not believe how many times our fire department has been called out to (kill) a swarm of bees that were in somebodies attic,or tree,etc.We used to spray foam on them and it would eliminate the problem on the spot.But,not any more.We were informed that there is a major problem occurring in the U.S. with the decline of bees.This is a very serious problem and affects ALL of us.Bees are the main source of pollination.They pollinate farmers crops,fruit trees,flowers,and if we loose them,how will we get major orchards and large crops pollinated?So,please keep this in mind if you see a swarm of bees,if they are bothering you,call a bee keeper,he will be glad to come and get them.I posted this thread in hopes that helping to inform everybody about this problem,it would make people more eager to grab the phone,and less tempted to grab the wasp and bee spray!
decadent and depraved
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Right Behind You
Originally Posted by Keepin It Real
I am curious. How, exactly, does one go about capturing (if that's the right word) a swarm of bees?
And once "captured", where do they take 'em?
Tim
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From: Michigan
Bill W is far more experienced with this stuff then I am,and will probably jump in and inform us all.But in the mean time,I have seen beekeepers use smoke to calm the swarm,then they trap the queen,then they move her to a safe hive that they set up.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Tucson
I use a bee vac witch is nothing more than a shop vac with a long hose and a modified 5 gal bucket somewhere inbetween, If the bees are swarming theres no need for smoke If you remove a colony boy you need it. MY son and I removed about 50 colonys /swarms, or so last year, This is just a hobby for me But very fun. What the smoke does is trick the bees into thinking there house is on fire, so they gorge themselfs on honey before they fly. here are some pics from one of them
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Lafayette, IN
Shop vacs aren't supposed to let the items being sucked up go through the impeller. From Bill's post, it sounds like he is using some sort of cyclonic separator halfway down the hose so that the bees don't even make it to the shop vac.
Jason
Jason
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Hotshot
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From: Tucson
Thats right, thanks, every time I wright more than one sentence my computer kicks me off. just wrote three paragraphs for NOTHING. I Got to get this thing fixed.
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I have been watching for honeybees, can't find many. They were around my house in noticeable numbers last year, but are almost impossible to find today. I have seen about 5 total in the last 4 weeks. Our house is loaded with blooming flowers, wildflowers, and clover.
In addition, I have not seen any carpenter ants around my house, they have been missing as well. I do not not use chemicals of any kind to treat my property, no fertilizer, no weed killers, no grub and pest control, etc.etc.
I saw more honeybees and ants early in the year, I saw them on the first warm days, I believe the bees are coming out to soon and dying on the next cold days.
Sorry for the ant hijack.
In addition, I have not seen any carpenter ants around my house, they have been missing as well. I do not not use chemicals of any kind to treat my property, no fertilizer, no weed killers, no grub and pest control, etc.etc.
I saw more honeybees and ants early in the year, I saw them on the first warm days, I believe the bees are coming out to soon and dying on the next cold days.
Sorry for the ant hijack.
Hotshot
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From: iowa
Bill I think you misread that he isn't saying bees account for 30% of the pollination needed for what we eat, he is saying that 1 species of bees (European honey bee to be precise) is responsible by itself for 30% of the pollination needed for agriculture and that I would believe is actually pretty close to the truth on a global scale which is the indication in the article. Also Corn accounts for a very large portion of the food supply in the world and doesn't rely on bees for pollination unlike most flowering types of foods and plants.
Now don't get me wrong not saying we don't need the bees just being correct on what the article is actually saying.
Now don't get me wrong not saying we don't need the bees just being correct on what the article is actually saying.
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From: Michigan
Thanks for the link OKMIC1.It was an interesting read.Although I do disagree with a couple of things,one like Bill W said,the amount of pollination they do.I know for a fact that wine grape growers bring in bee keepers with vast swarms of bees to pollinate their grape vines,and that Apple growers do the same thing,so to state that bees are only responsible for thirty percent,I think is an understatement.The other thing that I disagree with is his logic on waiting ten years to see what kind of impact this has.I think we should as a society,look at this NOW!And research it strongly NOW!If we can correct this problem now,before it gets to a catastrophic state then we would be wise to do so.Waiting,and then saying,Oh if only we had done something ten years ago,is not an option that is worth the risk!
