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 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 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 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 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.

Described herein is an apparatus for dispensing a substance. The apparatus comprises a fan, a wind tunnel, a heating coil, a receptacle, and a container. The fan is adapted to create an air flow in a particular direction. The wind tunnel has a proximate end and a distal end, and is connected to the fan to receive the air flow in the proximate end and channel the air flow towards the distal end. The heating coil is disposed inside the wind tunnel configured to generate heat. The receptacle is to the wind tunnel. The receptacle has an intake hole, an access hole, a discharge hole, and a heating chamber. The heating chamber connects the intake hole, access hole, and the discharge hole. The container is disposed in the heating chamber and has an opening. The cover covers the access hole. The receptacle receives the air flow from the proximate end of the wind tunnel and channels the air flow from the intake hole around the container to the discharge hole. Additionally, the heating chamber is heated with the heat from the heating coil.

Described herein is an apparatus for dispensing a substance. The apparatus comprises a fan, a wind tunnel, a heating coil, a receptacle, and a container. The fan is adapted to create an air flow in a particular direction. The wind tunnel has a proximate end and a distal end, and is connected to the fan to receive the air flow in the proximate end and channel the air flow towards the distal end. The heating coil is disposed inside the wind tunnel configured to generate heat. The receptacle is to the wind tunnel. The receptacle has an intake hole, an access hole, a discharge hole, and a heating chamber. The heating chamber connects the intake hole, access hole, and the discharge hole. The container is disposed in the heating chamber and has an opening. The cover covers the access hole. The receptacle receives the air flow from the proximate end of the wind tunnel and channels the air flow from the intake hole around the container to the discharge hole. Additionally, the heating chamber is heated with the heat from the heating coil.

The present invention is based on a plurality of benefits from the extracts of mycelia of individual fungal species, and mixtures of species, to provide an armamentarium of defenses from multiple stressors in order to help bees survive a complex of symptoms collectively called colony collapse disorder (CCD). More particularly, the present invention utilizes specific concentrations of extracts from pure cultured mycelium from mushroom forming fungi to reduce harmful viruses in bees and to increase the longevity of bees.

The present invention is based on a plurality of benefits from the extracts of mycelia of individual fungal species, and mixtures of species, to provide an armamentarium of defenses from multiple stressors in order to help bees survive a complex of symptoms collectively called colony collapse disorder (CCD). More particularly, the present invention utilizes specific concentrations of extracts from pure cultured mycelium from mushroom forming fungi to reduce harmful viruses in bees and to increase the longevity of bees.

This invention concerns a method for preventing and treating Colony Collapse Disorder, consisting in the use of an automated device that delivers a diet specifically calibrated for consumption by farm colonies of bees to be treated. The apparatus comprises a box-like container (10) accommodating in its interior at least one reservoir for liquid-tight, accessible from outside through a nozzle (4), an atomizing device of a liquid solution or suspension contained in the reservoir, means for the delivery (2, 1) of the liquid atomized solution or suspension into micrometric drops outside the apparatus, and a control unit programmed for timing the delivery of the solution or suspension to the outside, for the determination of the quantity of solution or suspension delivered and for emitting alarm signals in case of malfunction, the apparatus being powered DC with the energy supplied by a solar panel (5) located outside of the container.

The liquid solution or suspension comprises tonic and nutrient ingredients, mainly consisting of milk powder, sugars and lower organic acids, antioxidant and antiseptic ingredients contained in plant extracts and healing ingredients to bees, such as essential oils of thyme and oxalic acid.

This invention concerns a method for preventing and treating Colony Collapse Disorder, consisting in the use of an automated device that delivers a diet specifically calibrated for consumption by farm colonies of bees to be treated. The apparatus comprises a box-like container (10) accommodating in its interior at least one reservoir for liquid-tight, accessible from outside through a nozzle (4), an atomizing device of a liquid solution or suspension contained in the reservoir, means for the delivery (2, 1) of the liquid atomized solution or suspension into micrometric drops outside the apparatus, and a control unit programmed for timing the delivery of the solution or suspension to the outside, for the determination of the quantity of solution or suspension delivered and for emitting alarm signals in case of malfunction, the apparatus being powered DC with the energy supplied by a solar panel (5) located outside of the container.

The liquid solution or suspension comprises tonic and nutrient ingredients, mainly consisting of milk powder, sugars and lower organic acids, antioxidant and antiseptic ingredients contained in plant extracts and healing ingredients to bees, such as essential oils of thyme and oxalic acid.

A system ventilation and entrance adjustment for a beehive is provided. The system includes: a first panel comprising a first cutout and an entrance adjustment portion flanking the first cutout; and a second panel disposed rearward of the first panel and comprising a second cutout. The first panel is slidable relative to the second panel. In a closed configuration the entrance adjustment portion blocks the second cutout to prevent bees from passing through, and in an open configuration the entrance adjustment portion either does not block, or only partially blocks, the second cutout to allow bees to pass through. The first panel and the second panel each comprise ventilation means. In the closed configuration and in the open configuration the ventilation means of the first panel are arranged to at least partially overlap with the ventilation means of the second panel to allow air to flow through the system.

Disclosed herein are formulations for promoting honeybee health. In some embodiments, the formulations include an aqueous solution having an organic acid, one or more buffering agents, one or more coloring dyes, and one or more strains of probiotic bacteria.