A system including: a plurality of bee frames releasably mounted within at least one hive chamber; a mechanism that extracts a bee frame from a hive chamber and inserts a bee frame into a hive chamber; an imaging system that acquires an image of a frame; and a processing unit which: determines, based on processing the image, the specific content of each of a plurality of cells in the frame, and predicts a possibility of swarming based on identifying, in the image, at least one cell including a queen larva.

In one example, a heatable centre wall for a beehive is provided for the hyperthermal reduction of varroa and/or for heating honeycombs for maximizing the harvest yields. The centre wall includes a continuous PTC (positive temperature coefficient) heating foil having a non-linear PTC (positive temperature coefficient) effect. As well, the PTC (positive temperature coefficient) heating foil has on at least one of its sides a layer having a comb pattern.

Monitoring system, device and method for detecting chemicals in an insect environment, such as a beehive or colony. The method can include monitoring the insect environment for the presence or absence of at least one chemical or environmental factor using at least one sensor located within the insect environment, the at least one sensor operative to generate data in response to the presence or absence of at least one chemical or factor in the environment and communicate the data to an associated data processing device, monitoring a population of insects in the insect environment to detect a change in the population or health of insects that make up the population, and generating a correlation between a detected change in the population or health of insects in the insect environment with an increase or decrease of the at least one chemical outside the insect environment.

Monitoring system, device and method for detecting chemicals in an insect environment, such as a beehive or colony. The method can include monitoring the insect environment for the presence or absence of at least one chemical or environmental factor using at least one sensor located within the insect environment, the at least one sensor operative to generate data in response to the presence or absence of at least one chemical or factor in the environment and communicate the data to an associated data processing device, monitoring a population of insects in the insect environment to detect a change in the population or health of insects that make up the population, and generating a correlation between a detected change in the population or health of insects in the insect environment with an increase or decrease of the at least one chemical outside the insect environment.

Compositions and methods that reduce Varroa mite populations within a honey bee colony are disclosed. The compositions and methods utilize relatively high concentrations of one or more naturally occurring molecules that are found within honey and/or propolis within a honey bee colony at low concentrations.

Compositions and methods that reduce Varroa mite populations within a honey bee colony are disclosed. The compositions and methods utilize relatively high concentrations of one or more naturally occurring molecules that are found within honey and/or propolis within a honey bee colony at low concentrations.

An inoculation system for a bee hive having a hive opening includes (a) a body mountable to the hive intermediate the hive opening and an outside environment external the hive, (b) a bee pathway in the body for providing passage between the hive opening and the outside environment when the body is mounted to the hive, (c) a removable cartridge installed in the body and having a cartridge chamber storing an inoculum, and (d) an automatic inoculum dispenser in the body. The dispenser is operable to controllably dispense the inoculum from the cartridge chamber into the bee pathway to dust bees passing through the bee pathway with the inoculum.

An inoculation system for a bee hive having a hive opening includes (a) a body mountable to the hive intermediate the hive opening and an outside environment external the hive, (b) a bee pathway in the body for providing passage between the hive opening and the outside environment when the body is mounted to the hive, (c) a removable cartridge installed in the body and having a cartridge chamber storing an inoculum, and (d) an automatic inoculum dispenser in the body. The dispenser is operable to controllably dispense the inoculum from the cartridge chamber into the bee pathway to dust bees passing through the bee pathway with the inoculum.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides tritriacontene compositions for inducing hygienic behavior in honey bees; mite-infested brood extract compositions for inducing hygienic behavior in honey bees; methods of inducing hygienic behavior in honey bees; methods of selecting one or more honey bee(s) exhibiting hygienic behavior, and methods for assessing the degree of hygienic behavior within a honey bee colony.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides tritriacontene compositions for inducing hygienic behavior in honey bees; mite-infested brood extract compositions for inducing hygienic behavior in honey bees; methods of inducing hygienic behavior in honey bees; methods of selecting one or more honey bee(s) exhibiting hygienic behavior, and methods for assessing the degree of hygienic behavior within a honey bee colony.