A splittable honeycomb comprising: a first comb portion and a second comb portion comprising a first series of cell portions and a corresponding second series of cell portions respectively, said first and second cell portions defining a series of honeycomb cells therebetween, the first comb portion and the second comb portion being moveable relative to each other from a closed cell position to an open cell position, wherein mutually opposed edges of said cells are non-contiguous in the closed cell position to thereby avoid catching a limb of a bee.

This invention discloses an artificial habitat site for beneficial insects. The habitat is made by stacking grooved bricks on top of one another to create cavities or tunnels for insects to nest, shelter, or overwinter. The bricks are made from durable and reusable materials that are easy to maintain and sanitize.

This invention discloses an artificial habitat site for beneficial insects. The habitat is made by stacking grooved bricks on top of one another to create cavities or tunnels for insects to nest, shelter, or overwinter. The bricks are made from durable and reusable materials that are easy to maintain and sanitize.

The present invention provides an artificial honeycomb foundation for beehives wherein a single foundation sheet includes cells of more than one size to accommodate both worker bees and drone bees. An array of hexagonally-shaped cells may be provided on either or both sides of a dividing film wall. Within the array of cells on each side of the dividing film wall there are provided an array of worker bee sized cells, typically in the range of between about 4.6 mm and 5.5 mm, and an array of drone bee sized cells, typically in the range of between about 6.4 mm and 6.6 mm. The hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells projecting from the front surface of the dividing film wall are offset from the hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells projecting from the rear surface of the dividing film wall.

The present invention provides an artificial honeycomb foundation for beehives wherein a single foundation sheet includes cells of more than one size to accommodate both worker bees and drone bees. An array of hexagonally-shaped cells may be provided on either or both sides of a dividing film wall. Within the array of cells on each side of the dividing film wall there are provided an array of worker bee sized cells, typically in the range of between about 4.6 mm and 5.5 mm, and an array of drone bee sized cells, typically in the range of between about 6.4 mm and 6.6 mm. The hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells projecting from the front surface of the dividing film wall are offset from the hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells projecting from the rear surface of the dividing film wall.

The present disclosure provides a novel queen monitoring cage system comprising a housing having a plurality of holes to provide ventilation, at least one egg laying plate, serving as an inner wall of the cage. The egg laying plate includes a plurality of hexagonal cells, and one or more ports to allow materials to be added to the housing. Additional embodiments of the system provides a removable drawer for the insertion and removal of bees, and inserts to prevent escape of bees while egg laying plates are added and removed. Experimental results show that the queen monitoring cage can be used to study queen egg laying behavior under laboratory controlled conditions.

The present disclosure provides a novel queen monitoring cage system comprising a housing having a plurality of holes to provide ventilation, at least one egg laying plate, serving as an inner wall of the cage. The egg laying plate includes a plurality of hexagonal cells, and one or more ports to allow materials to be added to the housing. Additional embodiments of the system provides a removable drawer for the insertion and removal of bees, and inserts to prevent escape of bees while egg laying plates are added and removed. Experimental results show that the queen monitoring cage can be used to study queen egg laying behavior under laboratory controlled conditions.

A splittable honeycomb comprising: a first comb portion and a second comb portion comprising a first series of cell portions and a corresponding second series of cell portions respectively, said first and second cell portions defining a series of honeycomb cells therebetween, the first comb portion and the second comb portion being moveable relative to each other from a closed cell position to an open cell position, wherein mutually opposed edges of said cells are non-contiguous in the closed cell position to thereby avoid catching a limb of a bee.

A splittable honeycomb comprising: a first comb portion and a second comb portion comprising a first series of cell portions and a corresponding second series of cell portions respectively, said first and second cell portions defining a series of honeycomb cells therebetween, the first comb portion and the second comb portion being moveable relative to each other from a closed cell position to an open cell position, wherein mutually opposed edges of said cells are non-contiguous in the closed cell position to thereby avoid catching a limb of a bee.

A heater-equipped man-made beehive incorporates a substantially enclosed hive body having a plurality of joined side walls, a floor, and a top. The hive body defines an entrance sufficient for allowing passage of bees into and from the beehive. A heating element is located inside the hive body adjacent the floor, and is adapted to raise an ambient temperature inside the beehive.