Abstract: A bee handling device and method for removing worker, drone and queen bees from a comb includes a chamber having an entrance opening of a size to pass a comb frame and attendant bees. The chamber is subjected to vacuum drawing in air currents flowing across bees and the comb frame and into the chamber. Brushes line the entrance opening and aid in simultaneously brushing bees from the comb frame for capture within the chamber. After being deprived of bees, the combs are withdrawn from the chamber. Bees are temporarily retained in the chamber until transferred to another chamber which has an exit screen that passes worker bees while retaining queen and drone bees thereby partitioning the castes for separate and further handling.