An apiary accessory to protect an apiary entrance from rain, flooding, excessive heat, wind, and other elements and debris. The awning device has rectangular planar sheet with lateral or transverse and longitudinal edges. The awning device is secured to front surface of the apiary using a securing sheet that is fastened thereto using mechanical fasteners. During use, the awning device extends over the entrance of the apiary to protect the same and may further comprise one or more sensors for sensing conditions related to the apiary.

A honey bee mite removal device includes a chamber having a one-way entry gate opposing an exit gate. An electronics puck is positioned within the chamber as well as a fondant to entice honey bees to enter the chamber through the one-way entry gate. There is also a dusting assembly within the chamber adjacent to the exit gate to dispense dusting powder onto the honey bees so that the honey bees groom themselves dislodging any mites that are attached to the honey bees.

A system, method, and apparatus for thermal management of Varroa mite infestations in manmade beehives includes a portable direct current controller that selectively controls power to a heated bottom board that is installed underneath the bottommost brood box of the beehive. The bottom board elevates the temperature within the brood boxes to a constant temperature of approximately 107° F. The bottom board provides an entrance that is movable between a closed condition and an open condition. An adjustable queen excluder is disposed between the uppermost brood box and the honey super box, wherein the queen excluder is moveable between a passage position and an exclusion position preventing passage of the entire honeybee colony between the brood boxes and the honey super boxes. The excluded position prevents leakage of the heat as well as keeps the honey super boxes below the elevated temperature.

A system, method, and apparatus for thermal management of Varroa mite infestations in manmade beehives includes a portable direct current controller that selectively controls power to a heated bottom board that is installed underneath the bottommost brood box of the beehive. The bottom board elevates the temperature within the brood boxes to a constant temperature of approximately 107° F. The bottom board provides an entrance that is movable between a closed condition and an open condition. An adjustable queen excluder is disposed between the uppermost brood box and the honey super box, wherein the queen excluder is moveable between a passage position and an exclusion position preventing passage of the entire honeybee colony between the brood boxes and the honey super boxes. The excluded position prevents leakage of the heat as well as keeps the honey super boxes below the elevated temperature.

A beekeeping hive base having a container with a bottom and a continuous wall extending upwardly from the bottom about a perimeter thereof. Two spaced apart openings extend through the walls. Each of the two openings is positioned so as to allow with corresponding openings of two adjacent hive bases. A respective gate assembly is mounted to a sidewall for selectively closing and opening each of the openings A beekeeping method is provided using beekeeping hives having such a hive base.

A beekeeping hive base having a container with a bottom and a continuous wall extending upwardly from the bottom about a perimeter thereof. Two spaced apart openings extend through the walls. Each of the two openings is positioned so as to allow with corresponding openings of two adjacent hive bases. A respective gate assembly is mounted to a sidewall for selectively closing and opening each of the openings A beekeeping method is provided using beekeeping hives having such a hive base.

Aspects of this disclosure include a system for providing non-contact, computer-vision based monitoring of the health and pollination activity of a beehive. The system may include camera positioned proximate to a beehive. The camera may include an onboard processor that analyzes video of the beehive captured by the camera and calculates an activity value that estimates a number of bees moving about the beehive. The video calculated activity values may be uploaded to a server where they can be accessed via a user device. The user device may allow the user to display interactive plots of the activity values over a variety of time bases. The disclosed beehive monitoring system relies on relatively lost-cost hardware and requires neither modification to the hive nor special constraints on the placement of the camera.

Aspects of this disclosure include a system for providing non-contact, computer-vision based monitoring of the health and pollination activity of a beehive. The system may include camera positioned proximate to a beehive. The camera may include an onboard processor that analyzes video of the beehive captured by the camera and calculates an activity value that estimates a number of bees moving about the beehive. The video calculated activity values may be uploaded to a server where they can be accessed via a user device. The user device may allow the user to display interactive plots of the activity values over a variety of time bases. The disclosed beehive monitoring system relies on relatively lost-cost hardware and requires neither modification to the hive nor special constraints on the placement of the camera.

A bee nesting block, comprising: a first arrangement having a first slab, a second slab, a third slab and a fourth slab, wherein a stacked first arrangement forms a first staggered ledge and a second staggered ledge to provide a landing surface and greater planer space as a visual cue for improved nest recognition for one or more mason bees; and a second arrangement having a fifth slab, a sixth slab, a seventh slab and an eighth slab, wherein a stacked second arrangement forms a third staggered ledge and a fourth staggered ledge to provide a landing surface for the one or more mason bees; wherein the first arrangement is stacked onto the second arrangement to form the bee nesting block having a hexagonal shape; wherein the first arrangement stacked on to the second arrangement are fastened to one another using a plurality of bands or sleeves.

A bee nesting block, comprising: a first arrangement having a first slab, a second slab, a third slab and a fourth slab, wherein a stacked first arrangement forms a first staggered ledge and a second staggered ledge to provide a landing surface and greater planer space as a visual cue for improved nest recognition for one or more mason bees; and a second arrangement having a fifth slab, a sixth slab, a seventh slab and an eighth slab, wherein a stacked second arrangement forms a third staggered ledge and a fourth staggered ledge to provide a landing surface for the one or more mason bees; wherein the first arrangement is stacked onto the second arrangement to form the bee nesting block having a hexagonal shape; wherein the first arrangement stacked on to the second arrangement are fastened to one another using a plurality of bands or sleeves.