A container for a nucleus hive of bees is provided including a box having a polygonal shaped bottom and a plurality of side walls. Each one of the plurality of side walls extends upwardly from an edge of the polygonal shaped bottom. A side edge of each side wall is attached to a side edge of an adjacent side wall and upper edges of the side walls form an opening. The opening has an area larger than the area of the polygonal shaped bottom and a shape substantially corresponding to the polygonal shaped bottom. A hive frame support means is positioned on inner wall surfaces of a plurality of the side walls. A polygonal shaped removable lid is configured to rest upon and cover the opening. The box and lid are preferably formed from a rigid commodity grade plastic material.

A container for a nucleus hive of bees is provided including a box having a polygonal shaped bottom and a plurality of side walls. Each one of the plurality of side walls extends upwardly from an edge of the polygonal shaped bottom. A side edge of each side wall is attached to a side edge of an adjacent side wall and upper edges of the side walls form an opening. The opening has an area larger than the area of the polygonal shaped bottom and a shape substantially corresponding to the polygonal shaped bottom. A hive frame support means is positioned on inner wall surfaces of a plurality of the side walls. A polygonal shaped removable lid is configured to rest upon and cover the opening. The box and lid are preferably formed from a rigid commodity grade plastic material.

An apparatus and method for feeding bees is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a fluid tray member, a sheet, and a regulating valve. The fluid tray member is configured to hold a fluid for feeding the bees. The sheet is detachably attached on the fluid tray member via a magnetic strip. The regulating valve attached to the sheet is configured to maintain the level of the fluid. The regulating valve is attached to the sheet via a fastener. The sheet further comprises an inlet tube, a plurality of cavities, and a handle enable a user to position the apparatus to a desired location. The fluid is received via the inlet tube into the fluid tray member. The sheet provides a flat surface around the cavities to support each of the bees while feeding the fluid.

An apparatus and method for feeding bees is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a fluid tray member, a sheet, and a regulating valve. The fluid tray member is configured to hold a fluid for feeding the bees. The sheet is detachably attached on the fluid tray member via a magnetic strip. The regulating valve attached to the sheet is configured to maintain the level of the fluid. The regulating valve is attached to the sheet via a fastener. The sheet further comprises an inlet tube, a plurality of cavities, and a handle enable a user to position the apparatus to a desired location. The fluid is received via the inlet tube into the fluid tray member. The sheet provides a flat surface around the cavities to support each of the bees while feeding the fluid.

An artificially-created honey-yielding environment is established, including a hive and an associated flora cell, within which first and second plant populations cohabit. Within the cell, honey-producing insects from the hive are permitted to forage. One of the populations has been artificially introduced. The other may be indigenous to the cell. The first plant population serves as a primary source of nectar which yields bioactive honey and the second serves as a source of a nutrient, such as protein, which is not abundantly available from the first species at a nutritionally adequate level for sustaining the metabolism and energy of the foraging honey-producing insects for returning to the hive. The first flora population may be a Leptospermum species. An example of the second is Corymbia maculata.

An artificially-created honey-yielding environment is established, including a hive and an associated flora cell, within which first and second plant populations cohabit. Within the cell, honey-producing insects from the hive are permitted to forage. One of the populations has been artificially introduced. The other may be indigenous to the cell. The first plant population serves as a primary source of nectar which yields bioactive honey and the second serves as a source of a nutrient, such as protein, which is not abundantly available from the first species at a nutritionally adequate level for sustaining the metabolism and energy of the foraging honey-producing insects for returning to the hive. The first flora population may be a Leptospermum species. An example of the second is Corymbia maculata.

Provided herein are agents, compositions, and methods for agricultural use, e.g., for altering the level, activity, or metabolism of one or more microorganisms resident in a host nematode or arthropod (e.g., honeybee or silkworm), the alteration resulting in an increase in the fitness of the host. The invention features a composition that includes an agent (e.g., phage, peptide, small molecule, antibiotic, or combinations thereof) that can alter the host's microbiota in a manner that is beneficial to the host. By promoting favorable microbial levels, microbial activity, microbial metabolism, and/or microbial diversity, the agents described herein may be used to increase the fitness of a variety of beneficial nematodes or arthropods, such as bees and silkworms, utilized in agriculture and commerce.

A watering system is configured to supply water to insects without the insects drowning. The watering system has a base portion with a base lip which is attached to all distal edges of a pan. An overflow channel is arranged next to the pan and through the base lip. A flow path is arranged in the base portion and further has a lip with a fluid pathway. A retainer ring is installed into the flow path immediately adjacent to the lip. The retainer ring has a retainer ring fluid pathway. The fluid pathway is aligned with the retainer ring fluid pathway. The pan is attached to raised sections with channels therebetween. Fluid that is inserted through the retainer ring flows through the fills the fluid pathway and the retainer ring fluid pathway, before filling the channels, and then spilling out of the overflow channel.

A watering system is configured to supply water to insects without the insects drowning. The watering system has a base portion with a base lip which is attached to all distal edges of a pan. An overflow channel is arranged next to the pan and through the base lip. A flow path is arranged in the base portion and further has a lip with a fluid pathway. A retainer ring is installed into the flow path immediately adjacent to the lip. The retainer ring has a retainer ring fluid pathway. The fluid pathway is aligned with the retainer ring fluid pathway. The pan is attached to raised sections with channels therebetween. Fluid that is inserted through the retainer ring flows through the fills the fluid pathway and the retainer ring fluid pathway, before filling the channels, and then spilling out of the overflow channel.

Described herein is a bee feeding apparatus having a labyrinthine portal. The apparatus is useful for dispensing water, bee feeding supplements, or treatments to wild or domesticated bees. The circuitous entryway hinders or inhibits other insects such as wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets from entering the innermost regions of the feeder and accessing the bee feeding supplements.