Abstract: A beehive system includes a processing system for monitoring and controlling a beehive. The beehive can include a bottom board, one or more boxes, and an outer cover. The one or more boxes can contain bees and bee materials, as well as various components and sensors for monitoring and controlling conditions in the beehive. The beehive can include one or more sensors for monitoring a corresponding one or more conditions inside the beehive, and one or more control elements for manipulating the one or more conditions inside the beehive.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure include a system for providing non-contact, computer-vision based monitoring of the health and pollination activity of a beehive. The system may include camera positioned proximate to a beehive. The camera may include an onboard processor that analyzes video of the beehive captured by the camera and calculates an activity value that estimates a number of bees moving about the beehive. The video calculated activity values may be uploaded to a server where they can be accessed via a user device. The user device may allow the user to display interactive plots of the activity values over a variety of time bases. The disclosed beehive monitoring system relies on relatively lost-cost hardware and requires neither modification to the hive nor special constraints on the placement of the camera.

Abstract: A beehive comprises a main housing, a primary entrance housing that is rotatably attached to the main housing, and means for rotating the main housing about its rotational axis between vertical and horizontal positions. The main housing includes chambers for holding honey frames and brood frames. The primary entrance housing includes a primary entrance slot that allows ingress and egress of bees into and out of the primary entrance housing. A primary entrance tube connects the main housing to the primary entrance housing. The primary entrance tube provides a path of travel for bees to move between the primary entrance housing and the main housing. In this configuration, the bees may freely move from the exterior of the beehive, through the primary entrance slot into the primary entrance housing, and through the primary entrance tube into the chambers of the main housing.

Abstract: A tray for positioning in an exit path of a bee hive comprises a base, a bee entrance end, and a bee exit end. Spaced apart side walls extend upwardly from the base. The sidewalls extend generally lengthwise between the bee entrance end and bee exit end. A plurality of posts extend upwardly from the base and are positioned between the bee entrance end and the bee exit end. The posts are generally circular in cross-section. The posts act as obstacles around which the bees must walk to reach the bee exit end from the bee entrance end.

Abstract: A permanent full year inner cover having a transparent base and a central channel for improved ventilation and with ventilation ports that can be used as an additional entrance. A modification of the central channel to allow for an exteriorly controlled bee escape mechanism. An additional enclosure over the central channel to allow for the feeding of sugar syrup. The safety feature of the capabilities to observe, monitor, and feed bees without the removal of the inner cover and the necessity of protective clothing.

Abstract: A man-made bee housing configured to be maintained in a substantially vertical orientation but including features allowing for a primary compartment to be rotated to a substantially horizontal orientation to facilitate removal of honey, inspection of bees, and other maintenance needs.

Abstract: This invention discloses a bee nest for protecting bees from the environment. The bee nest has desiccating and insulating properties, as well as properties that repulse and deter varrora destructor mites. The bee nest comprises a housing having a first open end and a second open end. The first open end is covered by a first end plate which has ventilation means for the housing. A second end plate encloses the second end. Within the housing, there are a plurality of elongate conduits or tubes. Surrounding the plurality of elongate conduits is filler medium, such as crushed volcanic rock filler. Optionally essential oils to deter mites are distributed on the rock filler.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the dissemination of biological control agents or other substances through the use of bees, in particular bumblebees. It relates to a disseminator device, installable in or in connection to the hive, and which contains biological control agents or other substances which are picked up, carried and disseminated by the bees when leaving the hive.

Abstract: A selective insect trapping system including a trap entry portion having a groove formed therein, the groove sized for receiving a small hive beetle, the groove having angled side walls which broaden towards a base of the groove for hindering the small hive beetle from climbing out of the groove, the groove having a depth which prevents the small hive beetle from being able to fly out of the groove. The system further includes a receptacle configured for being connected to the trap entry portion, the receptacle being further configured for receiving and containing the small hive beetle. The trap entry portion has a passageway formed therein for allowing passage of the small hive beetle from the groove of the trap entry portion into the receptacle.

Abstract: An assembly 10 for capturing bees comprises a bee hive defining a hive chamber 14 housing a plurality of comb frames 16, and a bee access opening 18 to the bee hive. The assembly includes a collection enclosure 30 defining a collection chamber 32 in fluid communication with the hive chamber, and one or more dividers 38 separating the collection chamber from a restricted chamber. Each of the dividers 38 include a plurality of fluid passageways 40. The assembly further includes a powered vacuum unit 44 for drawing air and bees through the suction opening.

Abstract: An integrated bee monitoring system for monitoring bee colonies in a hive has a central microprocessor, at least two input transducers and at least two output signals. Input transducers include sensors which report the status of the colonies including colony weight, temperature, and relative humidity. A bee counter can also be included in the system to indicate colony activity. A bee counter is disclosed which uses an amplifying, multiplexer hysteresis and debounce circuitry to enable rapid and accurate polling of a single passageway. Information collected can be retrieved by read-out or liquid crystal display. Alternatively, information ca be retrieved by telephone line or wireless communications. The bee monitoring system also can remotely control peripheral devices such as feeders or chemical samplers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a beehive entrance dimensioned or equipped with an entrance gate device comprising an anti-parasitic agent having a means for restricting bees from flying into the hive, and compelling the bees to effectively contact the anti-parasitic agent

Abstract: A beehive having a bottom board for separating mites from bees working in the beehive. A permanently installed screen in the bottom board separates mites from the bees, and a sticky sub-board below the screen traps the mites to prevent re-infestation. Notched members around the perimeter of the sticky sub-board prevent bees from climbing up into the beehive and prevent re-attachment. The sticky sub-board is accessible from the rear of the beehive so that the entry and exit of the bees into and out of the beehive are not disturbed.

Abstract: A beehive (100) for honey production comprising a movable top entrance (104) positioned above a brood chamber (102). The movable top entrance is operative to releasably mount to the top of the brood chamber. In addition, the movable top entrance is operative to releasably support one or more honey supers (106) on top of the movable top entrance. The movable top entrance includes an outer frame (112) with at least one aperture (116) therethrough. the moveable top entrance further includes a baffle (122) in supporting connection within the outer frame. The baffle includes a cavity (126) adjacent the aperture in the outer frame. The aperture and the cavity have a size and shape which are sufficiently large to enable honeybees to pass through the aperture and the cavity to a location either above or below the baffle. The baffle has a surface area which fills the majority of the space between the outer frame and is operative to generally prevent the queen honeybee from moving to the honey super.

Abstract: A bee dissemination device or dispenser that is non destructive to the hive, is easy to insert, refill, and remove includes a cartridge insertable in a housing. The device is designed to be used by a non professional bee keeper, such as a grower. It is inserted into the entrance of a standard bee hive with minimal disruption to the hive or colony. When the bees exit the hive, they walk up a ramp through a dry biological control suspension and leave the hive, carrying and depositing the biological control agent onto the flowers as they pollinate the crop. When the biological control agent runs low, additional material is added easily by lifting a hinged lid or replacing the old cartridge with a filled one. The lid also provides some moisture protection to keep the biological agent dry, thereby facilitating bee inoculation. The dispenser is removed by simply pulling it from the hive entrance when pollination activities are completed. The removal is non disruptive and does not destroy the integrity of the hive.

Abstract: A method of achieving year-round utilization of pollinating insects such as bumble bees and a constant temperature box to be employed for this purpose. In order for this to be achieved, the temperature inside the nest box for housing pollinating insects such as bumble bees is maintained within an optimal habitat environment temperature range throughout the year. In the constant temperature box for maintaining the temperature within the optimal habitat environment temperature range, the temperature in the space where the nest box for housing pollinating insects such as bumble bees is placed is maintained within the optimal habitat environment temperature range for pollinating insects such as bumble bees through a device for temperature control. In addition, the constant temperature box is provided with a communication passage for access to allow the pollinating insects in the nest box to come and go between the nest box and the outside.

Abstract: Biocontrol agents are disseminated for the control of pests by Apis mellifera L. using a device inserted into a modified down-sized super which is integrated as a substructure of a conventional, commercial beehive. The device provides separate entry and departure pathways which allows exiting bees to be surface-contaminated with the biocontrol agent as they exit the hive.

Abstract: A housing has a length adjustable to match the length of the bee entrance of a common type of brood chamber and a width at least equal to the width of that bee entrance. The housing includes screened openings or other ventilation provision to permit air to pass through the bee entrance of the brood chamber. One or more arms or other clamping device on the housing holds the housing securely over the bee entrance to prevent bees from entering or leaving the brood chamber. The device facilitates transport of bees as well as laboratory control of African bees.