Compositions comprising a mixture of at least one cyclodextrin, a carrier, and optionally one or more vitamins and/or nutrients to improve at least one health factor of a beehive is disclosed. Methods of improving beehive health and apparatuses including such compositions are also disclosed.

Compositions comprising a mixture of at least one cyclodextrin, a carrier, and optionally one or more vitamins and/or nutrients to improve at least one health factor of a beehive is disclosed. Methods of improving beehive health and apparatuses including such compositions are also disclosed.

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.

The invention relates to a feeder with a small stimulating feed trough, consisting of a tray (2) for supplying liquid food and a frame (1) for providing food in solid form. Inside the frame (1) a small stimulating feed trough (8) is placed to provide syrup to the bees when the beekeeper deems it necessary. The trough (8) has a lid (11) with a sieve (12) to protect the food from exogenous agents.

The invention relates to a feeder with a small stimulating feed trough, consisting of a tray (2) for supplying liquid food and a frame (1) for providing food in solid form. Inside the frame (1) a small stimulating feed trough (8) is placed to provide syrup to the bees when the beekeeper deems it necessary. The trough (8) has a lid (11) with a sieve (12) to protect the food from exogenous agents.

Compositions and methods for protecting bees from toxins and for preventing or decreasing colony collapse are provided. The compositions comprise carbon microparticles which, when ingested by bees, increase their survival after exposure to toxins such as pesticides.

Compositions and methods for protecting bees from toxins and for preventing or decreasing colony collapse are provided. The compositions comprise carbon microparticles which, when ingested by bees, increase their survival after exposure to toxins such as pesticides.

A beehive stand has a basin which holds liquid such as oil which is covered by a baffle. However, the baffle is spaced apart from the basin such that the basin and baffle have an air gap there-between and are separate from each other. A centrally located vertical pole or support pole rises from the basin through a portal in the baffle and continues upwards to support another object such as a beehive. Multiple such beehive stands can be used to support or be different legs of a beehive, table, cabinet, appliance or other object especially one used outdoors. As there is no direct physical path directly upwards from the ground on which the stand is supported to the object there-above without an air space or oil, this prevents insects from climbing up from the ground to an object supported by the stand.

An automatic unit for one or several beehives for commercial or recreational beekeeping including honey production and pollination services comprises: (a) a plurality of bee frames (honeycomb, brood frames and other bee frames) releasably mounted within at least one hive chamber; (b) a mechanism for removing the bee frames from the hive chamber and inserting the bee frames thereinto; (c) an automated honey harvesting arrangement; (d) an arrangement for monitoring bees conditions, analyzing obtained data and reporting results to a user; and (e) an arrangement for feeding bees, pest and climate control. The mechanism for removing and inserting the bee frames comprises a frame loader linearly displaceable along at least one hive chamber.