Bee Sucker

If you've ever had trouble with bees you probably know how difficult it is to get rid of them without you being stung or the bees being killed. If you smoke them out, you have no control over where they make their next home and you can't use the "stinking" honey. After surfing the net and talking to a couple of people in the know I came up with a practical design that will make the transfer to their "lekker" new home as trauma free as possible.

Step 1 The outer box

For this step you will need four planks cut in standard lengths and heights as you would for a normal Langstroth hive supper. (You will need to measure your own hives. The idea is to place the full bee vacuum on top of the hive already filled with brood taken from the wild to ease the transfer of bees to their new home.)

Comments

[otismbakerjr]

WVBeekeepersHusband:
To those who would like to get started in beekeeping...
1] 1st. check with your local or state AG dept / agent for - Beekeeping groups in your area. Great scoure for help and hive sales to get started with.

2]Local bees help prvent the spread of unwanted (africanized bees).

3]USA - Dadant [www.dadant.com] and Walter T. Kelley [kellybees.com] also sale bees packages and starter hive kits and whatever else you might need.

Also try reversing your setup with the BeeVac on the bottom and the hive body on the top. Bees prefer to travel up thaan down.

Sunlight to bees mean fly-hunt-harvest.

By the way GREAT Design - I like the fact that you made it to fit the hive body, by using a short honey super for your out body.

[Javin007]

To add to this:

Don't be afraid to look into the laws even if you live in an urban environment. Due to the reduction of pollinators through pesticides, habitat destruction, etc. there's a sincere concern for them. As a result, many state and local governments have reduced or eliminated restrictions on keeping honey bees. You can often keep them in the suburbs, or even on the roofs of apartment buildings. (Strangely enough, city bees tend to be excellent honey producers). So if you're interested in keeping bees, don't let where you live stop you!

[Javin007]

I was getting ready to create my own design for a bee-vac. I love the simplicity of this, AND how it works directly with the langstroth design. Brilliant. Will totally be making one of these as soon as I convince the fiancee to let me tear up one of her old vacuums. :D

[velacreations]

Great instructable!

Here's a cheap and easy hive to house your bees as well:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-your-own-Honey-Cow-Top-Bar-Bee-Hive/

[thelastonekills]

i am interested in getting a bee hive any one know how or where

[linuxthefish]

 cool

[TehLonelyOne]

What a great device! and a great instructable. I was thinking of building one of these, but every swarm I've caught is sitting in a tree (easy to catch!) and I've never relocated a wild hive. 

[eulaliaaaa!]

Is this thing for wild bees or for your own hive? We have two hives at home, and they sometimes fly away.

[bert.da.bee]

I use the Bee Sucker for wild/feral bees. Your bees may be flying away because they are swarming (there is an extra mated queen in the hive and she is taking about half of all the worker bees with her to start a new hive/nest).

[pdub77]

That's awesome. Been reading a lot and hope to start beekeeping spring next year. I've heard of using a suction device to catch a swarm or move a hive, but never seen anything like this. Good work.

[sleepydog]

Nice build! Do you have to be concerned about heating up the bees with sunlight coming thru the window? How many swarms have you used this on? How large is your shopvac?

[bert.da.bee]

Thanx, I usually work under a tree or inside a house, so the bees don't get exposed that much. The moment I place the sucker on top of the new hive I cover the "window". (The hive lid fits perfectly.) Maybe someone with a bit more knowledge can shine some light regarding your question on the effects of sunlight on bees. I had the privilege of sucking two hives to date - both are doing fine. I will be removing another two this coming Saturday. (It is winter in South Africa so swarms are not that active...) The vacuum is a 1800W Hoover wet & dry.

[Mathias Re'eh]

cool i am a beekeeper this might acculy work.

[garrett10]

the title sounds so wrong

[slimguy379]

lol im an apiculturist, and idk if ill use this, but the uprise in bee related instructables is greatly appreciated... keep em coming

[depotdevoid]

Very nice, I know someone who works with bees that might like this. I'll forward it along.

[ry25920]

Wow.... giggle... this really sucks. Literally. But good job on the details. 3 stars.