Simple Bee Escape

thingiverse

This is a simple bee escape for removing bees from honey supers prior to extracting honey. Designed to fit standard 50 mm (2") openings found in inner covers of most Langstroth-style bee hives, it operates as a one-way valve. Bees easily move through the large opening into the "tunnel", and out the small opening into the brood chamber. Travel in the reverse direction is more difficult, requiring bees to enter via the small opening. So long as there are no other openings into the honey super, this bee escape should empty honey supers of all bees within 24 to 48 hours. Its design is based on traditional "Canadian escapes", consisting of a large opening to the honey supers, with a connecting tunnel leading to a small opening in the brood chamber. To assemble: print in any material you prefer; minimal material usage makes this project ideal for using up leftover filament. Glue the lid onto the box portion so that the square opening on the lid is opposite the large circular opening. To use: 1. 24-48 hours before extracting honey, move your inner cover between honey super(s) and brood chamber/unfilled supers, orienting it so the upper entrance faces downwards. 2. Place the bee escape into the inner cover's opening with the box-like portion facing downwards and the large circular opening upwards; ensure a flush fit. 3. Place honey super(s) to be extracted above the inner cover/bee escape. 4. Cover honey super(s) with telescoping covers. 5. If additional entrances exist, seal them with painters tape. Within 24-48 hours, most bees should have moved into the brood chamber, leaving honey super(s) mostly free of bees. EDIT: I've included an image showing how this works (image #3 on the slider); same honey box on the same hive before and after adding this bee escape.