Re: [OM] Converting Trouble into Medicine

[Jim Nichols]

Glad you enjoyed it, Wayne.

Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA

On 10/2/2016 4:23 PM, Wayne Harridge wrote:
> Interesting process Jim, thanks for sharing.
>
> ...Wayne
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: olympus
> [mailto:olympus-bounces+wayne.harridge=structuregraphs.com@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> ] On Behalf Of Jim Nichols
> Sent: Monday, 3 October 2016 4:31 AM
> To: LUG@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; Olympus Camera Discussion
> <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [OM] Converting Trouble into Medicine
>
> Several weeks ago, I discovered a Yellow Jacket nest in my back yard.  I
> kept a wary eye on it, but worried that my lawn maintenance guy might get
> stung.
>
> On Friday, the local newspaper, The Tullahoma News, ran an article on a
> Winchester, TN resident who traps Yellow Jackets, Hornets, and Guinea Wasps,
> and freezes them, eventually packing them in dry ice and shipping them to
> the lab of AKL Source Material in Pennsylvania.  There, the venom sacs are
> extracted by hand and used to create anti-venom.  I gave him a call and told
> him about my nest.  He arrived yesterday afternoon as I was watching a
> football game.
>
> I decided to document the process.  The first photo shows the nest entrance
> as I found it, essentially a hole in the ground laid bare by the passage of
> many insects.
>
> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Yellow+Jacket+Nest.TIFF.html
>
> Pete Waldenmaier's "BeeBusters" truck.
>
> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Bee+Busters+Truck.tif.html
>
> The vacuum trap, essentially a tank vacuum cleaner with a special collector
> trap.
>
> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/The+Vacuum+Trap.tif.html
>
> The trap in position at the nest hole.
>
> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Trap+in+Position.tif.html
>
> Final adjustments.
>
> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Final+Adjustments.tif.html
>
> After about an hour, the insect stream slows, so Pete hammers on the ground
> to disturb them, and more start flying out.  The vacuum captures most of
> them immediately.
>
> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Hammering+on+the+Ground.tif.htm
> l
>
> His truck is filled with support equipment, including a freezer and bottles
> of carbon dioxide.
>
> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Support+Equipment.tif.html
>
> The final product is a bottle of Yellow Jackets.
>
> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Yellow+Jackets.tif.html
>
> Pete stuns the insects with carbon dioxide before placing them in the
> freezer to die.  To be usable, the insects must remain frozen until the
> venom sacs are harvested at the lab.
>
> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Stunning+with+Carbon+Dioxide.ti
> f.html
>
> While he had this operation going on at my house, he had a parallel
> operation going on about 15 miles away.  I'm told there are only about
> 40 of these collectors nationwide.
>
> Comments and critiques welcomed and appreciated.
>
> --
> Jim Nichols
> Tullahoma, TN USA
>
> --
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