DISCLAIMER
Working with wild animals and bees can be hazardous and the
author can not be held responsible for any consequences arising from the
following
advice which is given in good faith.
Running A Live Bee Show
Contents:
A netted gazebo is cheap and portable and with care contains flying bees very
effectively. They are available in plastic or canvas with the canvas being
the better option although more expensive.
Try to ensure that the zips are of good quality and the horizontal and
vertical zips meet with the minimum of a gap. If a gap remains a small
additional flap can be added.
Black netting
is much easier to see through as it reflects less light - who owns a bee veil
that is not black?
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A Modified Gazebo with Hive
Click on image for an enlarged view.
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White netting can be stained by painting on highly diluted black
emulsion paint taking care not to let it run onto the rest of the fabric. Painting
whilst the gazebo is erected is easiest. Leave the rear entrance
unstained. |
It is usually necessary to add extra peg holes as
the structure requires pegging down very firmly. Extra metal eyelets can be
bought from camping stores and added easily by using a vice and a hammer.
Fit eyelets every 300mm and purchase additional pegs to suit.
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Select a site which allows public viewing around three sides with plenty of
space as crowds can build up to be 5-6 deep.
It does not have to be in the open air, it will also work within a marquee
but do use sociable smoker fuel if so enclosed.
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Erect the gazebo to allow you access from the rear and ensure that the front
is well zipped up.
Place the hive on a low stand facing the right front corner with at
least 1mtr (3 feet) between the hive entrance and the net. It is easier if
the hive is 'Cold Way' (contentious point) as two 'assistants' can then work
from either side with you in the middle.
A trestle table placed on the left side is useful to put tools and bits and pieces
on.
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Peg down securely then bank up a fillet of grass clippings about 150mm (6
inches) deep
along the inside where the gazebo touches the ground. As the grass obscures the light
from any small gaps, this will stop tired bees on the ground from crawling under the
edge.
Hang one large or several smaller sheets across the rear of the gazebo
forming a back drop to the ground. This is not for cosmetic reason but to
ensure that the rear is always darker which will discourage the bee
from flying towards the entrance wall. To enter the gazebo you squeeze between the
back of the gazebo and the sheets.
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This is the fun bit. Don't worry about gathering a crowd before you
start you will find that lighting a smoker works like a magnet and people will
stop to watch. Having a sign up announcing the time of each demo can help
to let people know when to return for the show.
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 | If you are comfortable you stand and preach, remember to project your voice to the furthest
member of your audience. Do not be in to much of a hurry, take your
time. Even if you have repeated the same thing twenty times that day remember,
for your audience it is fresh. |
| A more natural and satisfying method is to enlist one or two volunteers,
however do not take anyone into work with bees unless: |
- You have assessed the temperament of the bees
on the day.
- There is no known allergy to bee stings in the family.
- The 'volunteer' is willing and not under undue pressure.
- You have received permission from the parents
or guardians. Clearly explain that
bees do sting, and although every reasonable precaution has been taken there is an
outside chance of a sting.
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Click on image for an enlarged view. |
With careful supervision anyone can take a beehive
apart but as emphasized previously good natured bees are required as knocks and bumps
are inevitable.
Kids make the best subjects and their on looking parents get just as big a
kick out of it. Another beekeeper in the gazebo with you can take good
photographs without the netting in the way. Perhaps the parents will lend
you their camera for this special occasion |
Click on image for an enlarged view. |
As you are talking to the kids involve the audience by
suggesting that your 'assistant' demonstrates by
holding combs full of bees up to the netting for the onlookers to see (usually mum or little brother).
Best to use a comb towards the edge of the brood or a super frame to minimize the chances
of the queen being accidentally dropped.
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Relaxed bees will lap up honey straight from a
wet hive tool, kids enjoy 'feeding the bees' in this way.
Brush yourself thoroughly before you exit the gazebo.
A fun 'Beekeepers Assistant Certificate' always goes down well with the
younger kids (and some adults ;-).
Try to give the bees a rest of at least 20 minutes in every hour, don't worry
about the clustering bees on the netting they will be fine until the end of the
day. |
Click on image for an enlarged
view
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The real trick is to persuade the bees to return to the hive at the end of
the day. To do this you will need to construct a simple bee
vacuum made from a 12volt car vacuum and a plastic drinks bottle with a screw
top. This will gently suck the bees into the bottle without harm. If
mains power is available a 12v / 6amp battery charger can be used to power the
vacuum which is easier than carrying car batteries about. A household
vacuum is generally to powerful and unwieldy.
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A Bee Vacuum
Click on image for an enlarged
view. |
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It is not necessary to vacuum the bees routinely, unless the
hive population has significantly dropped or bees on the netting are
obstructing the view. Normally, leave it to the end
of the day and do it all at once. The flying bees will tend to cling onto
the net in front of the colony and on the brightest side of the gazebo, they
will come to no harm for the few hours of a live show. |
At the end of the
day follow the following steps:
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Remove two adjacent super frames
and shake the bees into the super.
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Leaving the super in place, fit a travel screen
or crown board.
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Block the entrance ready to transport the hive.
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Gently vacuum the bees from the netting and the outside of the hive.
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When the vacuum well occupied, screw on the top and switch off.
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Hold the vacuum vertical with the screw top towards the bottom and
gently shake the vacuum. 99% of the bees will fall to into the bottom of the
bottle.
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Now here's the tricky bit, disconnect the bottle and keep the bees into
the bottom by gently shushing them around as is they were a liquid whirl
pool. This stops them from flying out.
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Remove the crown board and quickly pour the spinning bees into the gap
previously left be the removed frames.
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Apply a puff of smoke and briskly replace the crown board. The bees
will settle while you repeat steps 4 to 9.
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The last few bees can remain in the vacuum and united later when the hive
is back in your apiary, also replace the removed super combs at that stage.
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Click on each image for an enlarged view.
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