Bees attracting and bee tranquilizing composition and their use in agriculture, horticulture and apiculture

Abstract

A bee attracting and bee tranquilizing composition has the form of an oil/water emulsion in aqueous phase, wherein the oil phase contains citral (3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienal), eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) and an oil carrier in an amount of 10% to 50% by weight of the composition, wherein the weight ratio of citral to eugenol is in a range from 1 to 10, and more preferably in a range from 1.7 to 5, and the aqueous phase contains a sweetener in an amount of 15% to 60% by weight based on the total weight of the aqueous phase. The sweetener is preferably selected from the group including: saccharose, fructose, glucose, sugar, inverted sugar syrup, maltose syrup and mixtures thereof. The invention also relates to methods and uses of such a composition for increasing the productivity of a crop area requiring bee pollination in agricultural and/or horticultural environments.

Claims

1. A bee attracting and/or bee tranquilizing composition in the form of an oil/water emulsion having an oil phase in an aqueous phase, characterized in that the oil phase contains citral that is 3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienal, eugenol that is 4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol, and an oil carrier in an amount of 10% to 50% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, the weight ratio of citral to eugenol is in a range from 1 to 10, and the aqueous phase contains a soluble carbohydrate sweetener in an amount of 15% to 60% by weight based on the total weight of the aqueous phase; wherein the oil carrier is a vegetable oil.

2. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that said sweetener is selected from the group consisting of: saccharose, fructose, glucose, sugar, inverted sugar syrup, maltose syrup and mixtures thereof.

3. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the citral has two isomers of neral and geranial and the isomer proportion of neral and geranial in the citral is within 0.8 to 1.2.

4. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that said oil phase further comprises an agent modifying the viscosity of the oil phase, in an amount of 0.2% to 4% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

5. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises at least one additional agent selected from the group consisting of: antifoam agents, surfactants and dispersion stabilizers.

6. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an agent enhancing the oxidative stability of the composition.

7. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it has pH in the range of 4 to 7.

8. A method for increasing the productivity of a crop area requiring bee pollination, characterized in that it comprises the step of applying the bee attracting composition defined in claim 1 over the crop area at the beginning of and/or during the blooming period.

9. A method for increasing the efficiency of introducing a replacement queen bee to a new bee colony characterized in that it comprises the step of applying the bee tranquilizing composition defined in claim 1 over a replacement queen bee and/or a bee colony and/or a honeycomb gathered with a bee colony to which the replacement queen bee is to be administered.

10. A method for increasing the efficiency of joining bee colonies characterized in that it comprises the step of applying the bee tranquilizing composition defined in claim 1 over at least one bee colony and/or at least one honeycomb gathered with bee colony to be joined.

11. A method for tranquilizing bees characterized in that it comprises the step of applying the bee tranquilizing composition defined in claim 1 over a bee queen, a honeycomb, a bee hive and/or an object and/or area in the vicinity of the bee hive.

12. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of citral to eugenol is in a range from 1.7 to 5.

13. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said oil carrier is rapeseed oil, corn oil, or mixtures thereof.

14. The composition according to claim 4, wherein the agent modifying the viscosity of the oil phase is polymeric surfactant.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. The following preferred specific embodiments and tests are, therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever.

Example 1

(2) The following composition has been prepared by suspending constituents listed in Table 1 according to the listed order.

(3) Both citral (CITRAL EXTRA BASF FG, CAS No. 5392-40-5) and eugenol (EUGENOL 926 INDESO, CAS No. 97-53-0) have been obtained from Ernesto VentOs, SA (Spain). Citral (3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienal) is a mixture of neral and geranial isomers having a strong, lemon-like odour and is sparingly soluble in water (0.42 g/l at 25 C.). Eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) has a strong, clove-like, spicy odour and is entirely insoluble in water. Inutec SP 1 t obtained from Surya Kimya San. Tic. Ltd. (Turkey) was used to modify the viscosity of the oil phase. Antifoam emulsion SAG 1572 was obtained from Momentive Performance Materials Inc. (USA) and Atlas G-5002 L surfactant was obtained from Croda Poland Sp. z o. o. (Poland).

(4) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Constituents of the Composition 1 amount Constituent (in order of addition) [g/kg] oil Rapeseed oil (carrier) 370 phase Citral (CITRAL EXTRA BASF FG, CAS No. 50 5392-40-5) Eugenol (EUGENOL 926 INDESO, CAS No. 25 97-53-0) Inutec SP 1 t (Inulin Lauryl Carbamate) 5 Atlas G-5002 L (surfactant) 9.4 aqueous Potable water 380 phase Sugar (sucrose) 150 Silicone antifoam emulsion (SAG 1572) 0.1 Citric Acid (anhydrous) 0.5 Propylene glycol 9 Xanthan gum 1

(5) Inutec SP 1 t oil phase dispersion has been mixed with water phase using a high cutting mixer for 2 minutes. Then xanthan gum in propylene glycol dispersion has been added as stabilizers and the composition has been mixed for 10 minutes to obtain milky oil/water (o/w) emulsion in sugar aqueous solution having pH in the range of 4.7 to 5.3. The composition contained about 7.5% by weight of active constituents (citral and eugenol) with citral amount twice as much as eugenol. Rapeseed oil was used as a carrier preventing rapid evaporation of active constituents.

Examples 2-7

(6) The following compositions have been prepared by suspending constituents listed in Table 2 according to the listed order. Each composition has been mixed for 10 minutes to obtain oil/water emulsion.

(7) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Constituents of the Compositions 2 to 7 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex. 4 Ex. 5 Ex. 6 Ex. 7 Constituent [% by weight based on (in order of addition) the total weight of the composition] oil phase Rapeseed oil 20.0 30.0 30.0 Corn oil 31.5 10.0 27.0 19.0 Citral Extra (BASF) 5.0 10.0 6.0 6.0 10 15 Eugenol 926 (Indesso) 5.0 1.0 3.0 3.0 2 5 BHT (antioxidant) 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 Inutec SL1 (Orafti) 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 Atlas G-5002 L (Croda) 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.8 Atlas G-1086 (Croda) 3.5 Atlox 4912 (Croda) 1.7 aqueous phase Potable water 36.1 44.6 34.6 29.6 29.6 22.6 Attagel 50 (BASF) 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Sugar (sucrose) 16.0 8.0 10 Inverted sugar syrup 20.0 15 16 Starch syrup 25.0 16 Silicone antifoam SAG 1572 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 Citric Acid (monohydrate) 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 Proxel XL2 (preservative) 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Glycerol 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 Xanthan gum 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

(8) Inutec SL 1, obtained from Gova Group (Netherlands), Atlas G-5002 L, Atlas G-1086 and Atlox 4912, obtained from Croda Poland Sp. z o. o. (Poland) were used as surfactants and agents modifying the viscosity of the oil phase. Attagel 50 obtained from BASF (Germany) was used as rheology and viscosity modifier. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) was used as an antioxidant. Antifoam emulsion SAG 1572 was obtained from Momentive Performance Materials Inc. (USA). Proxel XL2 obtained from Lonza Group AG (Switzerland) was used as a microbiostat preservative. Xanthan gum and glycerol were used as stabilizers.

(9) During further research the inventors tested the properties of the Composition 1 according the present invention prepared as described in Example 1 (further in the specification referred to as Composition 1) in the following experiments and tests.

(10) Test A. Northern Highbush Blueberry Bee Pollination

(11) Composition 1 was tested on a northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) cultivar Bluecrop productive plantation.

(12) Composition 1 was sprayed on a 250 m long row of bushes in an amount of 2 L/1 ha (hectare) at the beginning of the blooming period (May 8, 2015). Another 250 m long row of bushes separated with one row from the one sprayed with Composition 1 was used as control row.

(13) While the bushes were in flower the number of honey bees (Apis mellifera) present on the bushes were counted at certain days after the application of Composition 1 by two research workers walking with a similar speed along the treated and the control rows in order to determine the increase (I) of the bee presence in treated row over control row calculated as:
I=(N.sub.TN.sub.C)/N.sub.C
where N.sub.T and N.sub.C denote counted number of bees respectively in treated and control row. The results are listed in Table A.1.

(14) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE A.1 Bee presence in treated row compared to control row Day after application 1 5 7 11 14 21 23 I [%] 16.7 108.3 221.3 39.5 45.5 6.6 9.7

(15) At 23 day of the research there were only 56 bees in treated row compared to 62 bees in control row (I=9.7%). This observation indicates that after the blooming period the trees treated with Composition 1 were less attractive than control, untreated trees. This in turn enables for earlier application of other agricultural compositions including insecticide compositions over the treated row might otherwise be harmful to bees.

(16) The yield of the rows of bushes were also calculated as listed in Table A.2. As observed the use of the Composition 1 provided 14% yield increase over the untreated bushes.

(17) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE A.2 The yield from treated row compared to control row Yield Increase with [converted into metric regard to control tonne/hectare] [%] Composition 1 17.9 +14 Control 15.7 0

(18) Test B. Pear Bee Pollination

(19) Composition 1 was tested on pear cv. Konferencja productive plantation.

(20) Composition 1 was sprayed in an amount of 2 L/1 ha (hectare) during blooming period (May 4, 2015), when about 40-50% of flowers were open on each tree. Untreated trees were used as control.

(21) At the day of application and in the following two days the number of honey bees present on the trees were counted (20 trees were assessed), as well as the percentage of fruit set versus total no. of flower clusters, average yield per tree, average weight of 100 fruits and average no. of seeds per fruit (this parameter determines the level of a blossom pollination). The results are listed in Tables B.1 and B.2.

(22) TABLE-US-00005 TABLE B.1 Number of bees per one tree (average of 20 trees) Observation date Control Composition 1 May 4, 2015 4.5 6.9 May 5, 2015 2.6 5.9 May 6, 2015 2.3 3.2

(23) TABLE-US-00006 TABLE B.2 Other crop parameters (average of 20 trees) no. of Average fruits set/ Average Average no. of seeds no. of flower crop weight of per fruit clusters per tree 100 fruits (average [%] [kg/tree] [kg] of 100 fruits) Control 55.45 10.9 13.6 2.6 Composition 1 103.35 19.4 14.1 3.5

(24) As observed the use of the Composition 1 not only doubled an average crop per tree but also increased the quality of the fruits grown on treated trees over the trees untreated.

(25) Test C. Oilseed Rape Bee Pollination

(26) Composition 1 was sprayed on two 5 hectare fields of oilseed rape cv, Bogart and Konkret at the beginning of the blooming period. The fields were sprayed on about 5 m wide strips along their borders and within each field on about 5 m wide strips separated by about 20 m wide unsprayed strips in 1% concentration (1 liter of Composition 1 per 100 liters of water).

(27) The crop (kg/hectare) was determined during harvesting and compared to control, unsprayed fields. The results are listed in Table C.1.

(28) TABLE-US-00007 TABLE C.1 Oilseed rape yield oilseed rape Average yield [kg/ha] Yield increase cultivar Composition 1 Control kg/ha % Bogart 4815 3950 865 21.90 Konkret 4110 3450 660 19.10

(29) As observed the use of the Composition 1 substantially increased the yield of both oilseed rape cultivars.

(30) The experiments described below aimed to study the properties of the composition of the present invention to tranquilize bees in colonies.

(31) The scent of the queen bee is a factor, which integrates a bee colony. Worker bees display an antagonism towards bees of a different scent (from different colony) including other queen bees secreting their own specific pheromones. Typical reaction to animals featuring different scent is primarily mutual stinging. It is therefore expected that by introducing to bee colonies suitable fragrance compositions it shall be to certain extent possible to guide bees behavior and disrupt or control the course of the transmission of information. These effects can have a practical use in the conduct of the apiary. The aim of the experiments was to estimate to what extent the administration of the composition according to the present invention can influence the behavior of bees.

(32) Test D. Queen Bee Introduction

(33) In the following experiment water solution of the Composition 1 was examined in queen bee introduction tests. To this end old queen bees were searched and taken away from 48 colonies that were to be examined. Subsequently orphaned colonies were randomly divided into 2 groups.

(34) Replacement queen bees were then applied directly to the honeycombs containing the bees from tested colony which is probably the simplest and the fastest method of a new queen bee introduction. In the first group (the control group) replacement queen bees were applied directly to the honeycombs, wherein in the second group both the replacement queen bees and the Zander type artificial honeycombs were sprayed with 2.8 ml of the Composition 1 (1.4 ml for each side of the patch) before application of new queen bees. The applied dose resulted from the technical parameters of the sprayer. After seven days the presence of the queen bee and its egg laying were examined in each colony.

(35) The results of the experiment are shown in Table D.1.

(36) TABLE-US-00008 TABLE D.1 The efficiency of introduction of the queen bees to treated colonies compared to control ones No. of exposed No. of accepted Efficiency of Tested replacement replacement introduction Colonies queen bees queen bees [%] Control 24 15.sup. 62.5 Composition 1 24 24.sup.(*.sup.) 100.0 .sup.(*.sup.)one queen bee with damaged wings has been found

(37) As observed the control colonies featured significant loss of queen bees (37.5%) as compared to colonies and queen bees treated with Composition 1, where all queen bees have been accepted and initiated the process of laying eggs. During the review of the treated colonies one queen bee with damaged wings has been found which occurred probably accidentally by worker bees right after queen bee application on the honeycomb. No queen bee losses in colonies treated by Composition 1 is an excellent result, as it is commonly believed that no known method guarantees 100% efficiency of queen bee adoption.

(38) Test E. Joining Bee Colonies

(39) In the following experiment a suitability of Composition 1 for joining colonies was examined. Assessments were conducted twice in August and September, 2014. Two young colonies (so called nucleus colonies) gathered on an 4 to 5 artificial Zander type honeycombs were joined into one. Colonies are usually joined in this manner due to fact that such a small size of a single colony does not guarantee its safe wintering.

(40) Before joining, all honeycombs gathered by bee colonies were sprayed with clean water (control group) or with water solution of the Composition 1 (treated group). Particular honeycombs were subsequently transferred into a new hive, and later transported to distant apiary, to avoid bees returning to the memorized place. Queen bees were not taken away from the combined families. In each tested group forty nucleus colonies were joined into twenty combined ones.

(41) After 7 days the strength of colonies after joining measured as a number of gathered honeycombs, as well as queen bees presence were assessed. Collective results of the experiment are summarized in Table E.1.

(42) TABLE-US-00009 TABLE E.1 No. of Average strength assessed of colonies Queen colonies after joining bees Observation Tested after (No. of gathered loses date Group joining honeycombs) [%] outset of Control 10 7.7 20.sup. August 2014 Composition 1 10 9.4 0.sup.(*.sup.) outset of Control 10 8.2 10.sup. September 2014 Composition 1 10 9.1 0.sup.(*.sup.) .sup.(*.sup.)two queen bees from the initial colony remained

(43) As it has been observed bees from the colonies treated with Composition 1 gathered on a larger number of honeycombs (displayed greater strength) as compared to the control group even though the strengths of the colonies before joining were similar.

(44) It is probably due to the fact that bee workers from joined colonies after the application of Composition 1 were not stinging each other since unification of the fragrances of joined colonies prevented mutual aggression. On the other hand mutual stinging that occurred in the control colonies lead to certain bee losses and hence diminished the overall strength of the new combined colony.

(45) The antagonism between bees from different colonies also concerns queen bees. Nonetheless a unique phenomenon has been observed in bee colonies treated with Composition 1, where both queen bees from two joined colonies were left alive. Moreover no mutual aggression between these queen bees has been observed. Under normal circumstances, queen mother bees do not tolerate each other and immediately try to sting each other.

(46) Test F. Tranquilizing Worker Bees

(47) In this experiment properties of the Composition 1 in tranquilizing worker bees were examined.

(48) To this end in the vicinity of bee hives (at the entrances of the hives) two tennis balls were suspended in plastic nets. Moving, fluffy surfaces of the balls irritated bees and provoked them to stinging. One of the ball were sprayed with 4.2 ml of pure water (control group), and the other one were sprayed with 4.2 ml of Composition 1. Numbers of bees stings left on the balls were counted 48 hours after suspending the balls at the entrances of hives.

(49) Counting was performed in ten subsequent repetitions during unproductive period (i.e. during robbery time, when colonies aggressively defend their nests). The results of the experiment are summarized in Table F.1.

(50) TABLE-US-00010 TABLE F.1 Tested Subsequent No. of stings Average No. Group repetition counted of stings Control 1. 24 21.6 2. 11 3. 17 4. 9 5. 18 6. 27 7. 43 8. 26 9. 18 10. 23 Composition 1 1. 0 0.6 2. 1 3. 0 4. 0 5. 0 6. 0 7. 2 8. 0 9. 3 10. 0

(51) The results of the experiment clearly demonstrate lower aggression of worker bees towards balls sprayed with Composition 1. Furthermore while counting the stings stuck into the ball surface it has been noted that some worker bees are still present on the balls sprayed by Composition 1, trying to lick the surface of the material by their tongues. Interest in this material by worker bees, shows that even after 2 days of spraying, the balls were still attractive for them, and in contrast to the control group, did not cause irritation. The same material sprayed by Composition 1, was clearly less stung by the guardian bees. Clearly, the fragrance of Composition 1 is calming and attractive for bees, almost completely eliminating their stinging instinct.

(52) The experiments proved that composition according to the invention substantially influences behavior of bees. Composition 1 substantially increased the efficiency of introducing bee queens to colonies. It has also tranquilized worker bees inhibiting stinging instinct. Composition 1 leads to a specific state and behavior of bees covering expression of their natural instincts.

(53) Due to the exceptional features of the composition according to the invention and dues to the fact that no side effects in the above discussed experiments have been observed, it is therefore appropriate to use thereof in various apiculture applications.

(54) All the above embodiments of the present invention are merely exemplary. These and other factors, however, should not be considered as limiting the spirit of the invention, the intended scope of protection of which is indicated in appended claims.