How to Create an How to Create an AutobeedryerAutobeedryer

And save yourself buckets of And save yourself buckets of timetime

"They've got this steamroller going, "They've got this steamroller going, and they won't stop until there's and they won't stop until there's nobody fishing. What are they going nobody fishing. What are they going to do then, save some bees?"to do then, save some bees?"

- Mike Russo- Mike Russo

(Massachusetts fisherman who has (Massachusetts fisherman who has fished cod for 18 years, on fished cod for 18 years, on environmentalist)environmentalist)

What is an Autobeedryer?What is an Autobeedryer?

- A device which dries wet bees while - A device which dries wet bees while you do other things.you do other things.

Autobeedryer TheoryAutobeedryer Theory

A constant and relatively strong air A constant and relatively strong air flow over clean but wet bees will flow over clean but wet bees will result in specimens with upright, result in specimens with upright, separated, and correctly colored hair separated, and correctly colored hair and wings.and wings.

Obversely, without drying bees well Obversely, without drying bees well bees hair will be matted and their bees hair will be matted and their wings stuck together or stuck to the wings stuck together or stuck to the abdomen making identification abdomen making identification difficult.difficult.

We have made 2 types of We have made 2 types of AutobeedryersAutobeedryers

One made from a squirrel cage fan One made from a squirrel cage fan (like those found in window mounted (like those found in window mounted air conditioners)air conditioners)

One made from a small axial fan One made from a small axial fan (i.e., a larger version of a computer (i.e., a larger version of a computer fan)fan)

We think that you can come up with We think that you can come up with additional designsadditional designs

Squirrel CageSquirrel Cage

AxialAxial

Constructing a Squirrel Cage Constructing a Squirrel Cage AutobeedryerAutobeedryer

Find a squirrel cage fan…(also known as an air Find a squirrel cage fan…(also known as an air conditioner blower)conditioner blower)– You can buy them onlineYou can buy them online– You can take apart an old window air conditioner You can take apart an old window air conditioner

Our FanOur Fan

There are many ways to do thisThere are many ways to do this The one below is the unit we had in The one below is the unit we had in

our storeroom, scavenged from an our storeroom, scavenged from an old air filtration systemold air filtration system

We built a wooden box that We built a wooden box that would fit the openingwould fit the opening

Then we created a container Then we created a container for wet bees that would fit into for wet bees that would fit into

the wooden boxthe wooden box

Here is what you needHere is what you need

Materials List - You can easily find Materials List - You can easily find these in the hardware store or lying these in the hardware store or lying

aroundaround 20 cm or so of PVC pipe that will fit 20 cm or so of PVC pipe that will fit

snuggly into your autobeedryer boxsnuggly into your autobeedryer box A PVC coupling for that size pipeA PVC coupling for that size pipe Coarse sand paperCoarse sand paper SawSaw PVC solvent and PVC cleanerPVC solvent and PVC cleaner Plastic window screenPlastic window screen

Sand 1 end of the pipe and 1 Sand 1 end of the pipe and 1 end of the coupling smoothend of the coupling smooth

Add cleaner to those endsAdd cleaner to those ends

Add solvent to the cleaned ends Add solvent to the cleaned ends (one at a time as the solvent dries (one at a time as the solvent dries

quickly)quickly)

Add a piece of window screen to the end Add a piece of window screen to the end with the solvent and run your fingers with the solvent and run your fingers

around and around the rim to make sure around and around the rim to make sure the screen welds to the pipethe screen welds to the pipe

Trim the ends of the pipe with a knife. Trim the ends of the pipe with a knife. You can also drill a hole in the top and You can also drill a hole in the top and

attach a string so its easy to pull the pipe attach a string so its easy to pull the pipe out of the boxout of the box

How to UseHow to Use

Wash bees (see associated slide Wash bees (see associated slide show on washing bees)show on washing bees)

Rinse them well and dump them into Rinse them well and dump them into the bottom pipe. Since the pipe has a the bottom pipe. Since the pipe has a screen on the bottom you can simply screen on the bottom you can simply dump the bees and your last rinse dump the bees and your last rinse water into the pipe and the water will water into the pipe and the water will drain outdrain out

Snap out the Excess WaterSnap out the Excess Water

Put the cap you made out of the coupling Put the cap you made out of the coupling onto the pipe.onto the pipe.

Since any water in the pipe has to come Since any water in the pipe has to come out, its easier now to snap the water out of out, its easier now to snap the water out of the pipe using centrifugal force. So do the pipe using centrifugal force. So do that.that.

Drop the pipe into the box and turn on the Drop the pipe into the box and turn on the blower.blower.

Come back in 10-15 minutes …. or when Come back in 10-15 minutes …. or when they appear to be done.they appear to be done.

HintsHints

Check under the microscope the first few Check under the microscope the first few times you dry your bees to see if your times you dry your bees to see if your bees are really completely dry. The last bees are really completely dry. The last place to dry on a bee is the side of the place to dry on a bee is the side of the thorax under the wings.thorax under the wings.

If you have a big batch of bees drying in If you have a big batch of bees drying in your tube you may want to take the tube your tube you may want to take the tube out periodically and move the bees out periodically and move the bees around. You can also put it back in upside around. You can also put it back in upside down.down.

Axial Fan AutobeedryerAxial Fan Autobeedryer

Axial fans are everywhere. So, often Axial fans are everywhere. So, often you can scavenge one off some old you can scavenge one off some old machine, the dump, or from a parts machine, the dump, or from a parts store.store.

They are also very available on the They are also very available on the internet.internet.

SizeSize

In the axial fan autobeedryer we In the axial fan autobeedryer we constructed, we used an approximately constructed, we used an approximately 20cm square fan that we pulled from an 20cm square fan that we pulled from an exhaust fan of a composting toilet (that’s exhaust fan of a composting toilet (that’s another good story).another good story).

We couldn’t find the specs for the fan in We couldn’t find the specs for the fan in terms of cubic feet per minute, but the fan terms of cubic feet per minute, but the fan you use should produce a healthy air flow.you use should produce a healthy air flow.

We had to rewire ours a bit as it didn’t We had to rewire ours a bit as it didn’t come with an electrical cord.come with an electrical cord.

The fan…and, yes, we attached the The fan…and, yes, we attached the ground wire to the body of the fan later…ground wire to the body of the fan later…

(by the way, old power chords from (by the way, old power chords from computers work great for things with low computers work great for things with low

electrical loads)electrical loads)

The Bee ContainerThe Bee Container

We found a plastic food container in We found a plastic food container in the kitchen in which my mother had the kitchen in which my mother had sent some yummy bean soup (thanks sent some yummy bean soup (thanks Mom). Upside down it fit nicely over Mom). Upside down it fit nicely over the fan.the fan.

Next step, cut out the center of Next step, cut out the center of the bottom and the lidthe bottom and the lid

Glue on Some ScreenGlue on Some Screen

Initially we tried a good wood glueInitially we tried a good wood glue

But it wasn’t waterproof enough and But it wasn’t waterproof enough and came off after getting wetcame off after getting wet

An aside: Don’t do this…An aside: Don’t do this…

Never heat up cold glue in the oven Never heat up cold glue in the oven after cooking a pizzaafter cooking a pizza

What did WorkWhat did Work

Construction adhesive (you can buy a Construction adhesive (you can buy a small tube at the hardware store)small tube at the hardware store)

Picture taken from DIY Trade Web SitePicture taken from DIY Trade Web Site

Add the adhesive to the rim, add the Add the adhesive to the rim, add the screen, press the screen down using wax screen, press the screen down using wax paper (if you use your fingers alone you paper (if you use your fingers alone you

will be sorry)will be sorry)

Finished product…Note that the upper Finished product…Note that the upper screen is actually NOT glued to the lid, it screen is actually NOT glued to the lid, it

will be held in place by a rubber bandwill be held in place by a rubber band

UsingUsing After washing, dump all the bees and water After washing, dump all the bees and water

from the bee washer into the container.from the bee washer into the container. Put the screen on top, put the lid on top of that Put the screen on top, put the lid on top of that

(Don’t forget to cut out the center of the lid for (Don’t forget to cut out the center of the lid for good airflow), and put a rubber band around good airflow), and put a rubber band around everything.everything.

Turn the whole thing over so the lid is on the Turn the whole thing over so the lid is on the bottom (this fits our fan shape better than the bottom (this fits our fan shape better than the actual bottom of the container).actual bottom of the container).

Rap against the counter to expel excess water Rap against the counter to expel excess water (bees are tough, don’t worry about them).(bees are tough, don’t worry about them).

Place on top of fan and turn on and go do Place on top of fan and turn on and go do something else for awhile.something else for awhile.

Action ShotAction Shot

Modify This!!!Modify This!!!

These are suggestions, you are a clever These are suggestions, you are a clever and empowered person and will come up and empowered person and will come up with new and better ways of making a with new and better ways of making a beeautodryer. So go and do it.beeautodryer. So go and do it.

Once you have done so please send us a Once you have done so please send us a picture and any additional instructions picture and any additional instructions and we will add those to this presentation and we will add those to this presentation and you will have made a contribution.and you will have made a contribution.

ThanksThanks

Sam DroegeSam Droegesdroege@usgs.govsdroege@usgs.gov

Woe!Woe!

It is true, our tribe is similar to the bees,It is true, our tribe is similar to the bees,It gathers honey of wisdom, carries it, stores it in honeycombs.It gathers honey of wisdom, carries it, stores it in honeycombs.

I am able to roam for hoursI am able to roam for hoursThrough the labyrinth of the main library, floor to floor.Through the labyrinth of the main library, floor to floor.

But yesterday, looking for the words of masters and prophets,But yesterday, looking for the words of masters and prophets,I wandered into high regionsI wandered into high regions

That are visited by practically no one.That are visited by practically no one.I would open a book and could decipher nothing.I would open a book and could decipher nothing.

For letters faded and disappeared from the pages.For letters faded and disappeared from the pages.Woe! I exclaimed-so it comes to this?Woe! I exclaimed-so it comes to this?

Where are you, venerable ones, with your beards and wigs,Where are you, venerable ones, with your beards and wigs,Your nights spent by a candle, griefs of your wives?Your nights spent by a candle, griefs of your wives?So a message saving the world is silenced forever?So a message saving the world is silenced forever?At your home it was the day of making preserves.At your home it was the day of making preserves.And your dog, sleeping by the fire, would wake up,And your dog, sleeping by the fire, would wake up,

Yawn, and look at you, as if knowing.Yawn, and look at you, as if knowing.

--Czeslaw Milosz--Czeslaw Milosz