Colorado Bee Vac
Used by professional swarm catchers and hobbyists alike.
The Colorado Bee Vac is the world's leading bee hive relocation vacuum, trusted by professionals while still simple enough to use by the hobbyist. Chock full of functional design, the vacuum was carefully crafted and tested to effectively capture bees while drastically minimizing any loss.
Features:
- High-quality Eastern White Pine hive body (deep size) catch box
- Double the capacity of other bee vacuums on the market today. Can easily hold up to 10 pounds of bees!
- 1.75 HP vacuum with easily adjustable damper to regulate vacuum suction
- 10' "smooth" vacuum hose with 20" extension tube included. Vacuum is capable of using 20' or even 30' hose
- Two coats of premium exterior paint on exterior of catch box
- #8 mesh screened top for ventilation
How are bees released?
To empty, simply set the catch box on top of your prepared hive body and pull the slide bottom. Bees will migrate to the prepared hive body on their own the majority of the time. After the bees have gone down to the hive body, remove the empty catch box, slide in the metal bottom, and you are ready to go.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do you ship outside the continental U.S.?
Yes, we do ship outside the U.S. However, shipping is not economic because of the size of the shipping box. We have found the most cost effective is USPS or FedEx.
What is the length and diameter of the hose?
The hose is 1-1/2" in diameter but has an adapter where it attaches to the catch box that is 2-1/4". The vacuum is shipped with a 10' hose but is capable of using a 20' or 30' hose with no problem.
Do you offer a battery powered option?
We do not have a battery powered vacuum option. We have experimented with battery-powered vacuums but they just don't supply consistent suction over a long enough period of time. We carry a suitcase size generator in our van for the vacuum and any power tools we might need during a cut out if power is not available. Some people have a 110 converter mounted in their vehicle that can provide power. We have found a 100' extension cord to a house outlet covers 90% of all cutouts or swarm pickups. The most common problem is that the homeowner is not home, the house is locked, and they have no outlets on the outside of the house. That is when we utilize the generator.
Is the vacuum loud?
Yes, the vacuum is as loud as most shop vacuums are. For extended cut outs, we will use the 20' hose to move the vacuum further away.
How much power does it draw?
In our tests, the vacuum can draw up to 6.5 amps (780 watts) while running with unrestricted airflow. In actual use, power use is slightly lower.