Device for the nesting of solitary bees

Abstract

A board which can be used to form a beehive for solitary bees and/or wasps, the board including a first surface and a second surface which is opposite to the first surface, wherein the first surface having a plurality of holes defined therein, wherein the board further includes a plurality of individual tube members which project from the second surface and wherein each tube member is aligned with a respective hole defined in the first surface so that a bee can pass via a hole into the tube member which is aligned with the hole and wherein the plurality of tube members are arranged such that there are voids between adjacent tube members. There is further provided a device (beehive) which includes a plurality of the boards; and a method of forming a device (beehive) which includes a plurality of the boards.

Claims

1. A board which can be used to form a beehive for solitary bees and/or wasps, the board comprising a first surface and a second surface which is opposite to the first surface; wherein the first surface having a plurality of holes defined therein; wherein the board further comprises a plurality of individual tube members which project from the second surface and wherein each tube member is aligned with a respective hole defined in the first surface so that a bee can pass via a hole into the tube member which is aligned with said hole; and wherein the plurality of tube members are arranged such that there are voids between adjacent tube members.

2. The board according to claim 1 wherein, in the first surface of the board, around each of the respective holes there is defined a respective groove, and wherein each respective groove is configured such that it can receive the second, free end of a respective tube member of another board.

3. A device for the nesting of solitary bees and wasps, the device comprising a plurality of tubular cavities arranged for being used by said solitary bees and wasps to build their nests in the nesting cavities for receiving offspring during the nesting period of said solitary bees or wasps, characterized in that the device comprises a stack formed by a plurality of boards according to claim 1, said stacks comprising at least an entry board and an exit board, the stack comprising at least a first board which is arranged so that the second, free ends of the respective tube members of the first board abut the first surface of a second, adjacent, board, so that the respective tube members of the first board are aligned with the holes defined in the first surface of a second, adjacent, board, such that the tubes of the first and second boards form extended tubular cavities which extend from the entry board to the exit board.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the first board is arranged so that the second, free ends of the respective tube members of the first board abut respective grooves defined in the first surface of a second, adjacent, board.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the stack further comprises a back wall which is arranged to abut the second, free ends of the respective tube members of the exit board so that the back wall closes one end of the tubular cavities, and each respective tubular cavity has a single opening only defined by a respective hole defined in the first surface of the entry board.

6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the holes defined in the first surface of each board are distributed homogenously on the board.

7. The device according to claim 3, wherein the stack further comprises at least one intermediary board between the entry board and the exit board.

8. The device according to claim 3, wherein the device further comprises attachment means to maintain the boards in the stack in abutment.

9. A method of forming a device according to claim 3, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of boards each of which can be used to form a beehive for solitary bees and/or wasps, each board comprising a first surface and a second surface which is opposite to the first surface; wherein the first surface having a plurality of holes defined therein; wherein the board further comprises a plurality of individual tube members which project from the second surface and wherein each tube member is aligned with a respective hole defined in the first surface so that a bee can pass via a hole into the tube member which is aligned with said hole; and wherein the plurality of tube members are arranged such that there are voids between adjacent tube members; and stacking the plurality of boards by arranging at least a first board so that the second, free ends of the respective tube members of the first board abut the first surface of a second, adjacent, board, so that the respective tube members of the first board are aligned with the holes defined in the first surface of the second, adjacent, board, such that the tubes of the first and second boards form extended tubular cavities.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein, in the first surface of each of the plurality of boards, around each of the respective holes there is defined a respective groove, and wherein the step of stacking the plurality of boards by arranging at least a first board so that the second, free ends of the respective tube members of the first board abut the first surface of a second, adjacent, board, comprises stacking the plurality of boards by arranging at least a first board so that the second, free ends of the respective tube members of the first board abuts respective grooves defined in the first surface of the second board.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein a first board in the stack defines an entry board and a last board in the stack defines an exit board and wherein the method further comprises the step of arranging a back wall to abut the second, free ends of the respective tube members of the exit board so that the back wall closes one end of the tubular cavities, and each respective tubular cavity has a single opening only defined by a respective hole defined in the first surface of the entry board.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising, using an attachment means to maintain the boards which form the stack in abutment.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising orientating the stack such that the tubular cavities extend in a direction which is parallel to the direction of gravity.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising orientating the stack such that the tubular cavities extend in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction of gravity.

15. The board according to claim 1, wherein said voids between adjacent tube members define a network of air-channels configured to ventilate the beehive when the board is in use.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description of an embodiment given by way of example and illustrated by the figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a general view of a device according to the prior art;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a general view of a device according to a first embodiment;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a general view of a stack of the device according to the first embodiment;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a general view of the first main face of a board of the stack from FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a general view of the second main face of a board of the stack from FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a cross section view of a portion of the stack of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF POSSIBLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(8) Examples of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 6 that are described below. However, the invention is not limited to the disclosed examples.

(9) FIG. 2 represents a device 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The device comprises a housing 2 with a rectangular shape that receives two opposite stacks 3a, 3b connected by a plate 9 forming the back wall for both stacks. When the housing 2 is in a horizontal position, with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the direction of gravity, the stacks 3a, 3b are positioned back-to-back next to each other.

(10) In the present embodiment, the stacks 3a, 3b are identical. In other embodiments (not represented in figures), the stacks can be different, for instance by comprising a different number of boards.

(11) The housing 2 comprises two openings 5, each one exposing the entry board of one stack. The openings 5 provide an access for the bees to the stack 3a, 3b situated within the housing 2.

(12) In the present embodiment, the stacks 3a, 3b are vertically laminated stacks, in other words, the boards 4 are radially stacked so that in operation their main faces are aligned with the direction of gravity. In the prior art represented in FIG. 1, the layers are on the contrary superimposed on top one another in a horizontally laminated stack, said layers being perpendicular to the direction of the gravity.

(13) FIG. 3 represents stack 3a. The stack 3a comprises an entry board 6, an exit board 7, and six intermediate boards 8 maintained between said entry board 6 and said exit board 7.

(14) As represented in FIGS. 4 and 5, the board 4 comprises a first surface 10 and a second surface 11 which is opposite to the first surface 10.

(15) The first surface 10 of the board 4 has a plurality of holes 15 defined therein; the holes 15 are preferably homogenously distributed (in another embodiment the distribution of the holes 15 are heterogeneous (not represented in figures)). Most preferably the distribution of the holes (15) defined in the first surfaces of each board in the stack (3a, b) is identical on all the boards of the stack (3a;3b).

(16) The board 4 further comprises a plurality of individual tube members 12 each of which project from the second surface 11. Each tube member 12 comprises a first end 12a which is attached to the second surface 11 and a second end 12b, which is a free end.

(17) Each tube member 12 is aligned with a respective hole 15 defined in first surface 10. In other words, a hole 15 leads to inside the tube member 12 which is aligned with it. Accordingly, a bee can pass, via a hole 15 defined in first surface 10, into the tube member 12 which is aligned with that hole 15.

(18) Furthermore, in first surface 10 of the board 4, around each of the respective holes 15 there is defined a respective grove 30. Each respective grove 30 is configured such that it can receive the second, free end 12b of a respective tube member 12 of another board. Specifically, the dimensions (e.g. diameter and thickness) of each groove correspond to the dimensions of the second, free end 12b of the respective tube members 12. Since in a board each tube member 12 is aligned with a respective hole 15 defined in first surface 10 of that board, the position the groves 30 will correspond to the position of the tube members 12 of another board of the same type. Accordingly, as is shown in FIG. 6, when two or more boards 4 are stacked, the second, free end 12b of each of the respective tube member 12 of a board are received into respective grooves 30 defined in the first surface 10 of another board. The tube members 12 of each of the stacked boards thus align to form extended tubular cavities 16 in which the bees can nest.

(19) Referring to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the plurality of tube members 12 are mechanically independent of one another; in other words for every tube member 12 there is a void 22 between that tube member 12 and each of the tube members 12 which are adjacent to it; for example, there is a void 22 between the tube member 12a′ and each of the tube members 12b′-g′ which are adjacent to the tube member 12a′. Air can freely flow in the voids 22 between the tube members 12; thus as can been seen the voids 22 between the plurality of tube members 12 collective define a network of air-channels which can serve to ventilate the beehive. Specifically, the voids 22 provide ventilation between the tube members 12 of a board 4, which ultimately serves to provide ventilation between boards 4 which are stacked to form a beehive for solitary bees and/or wasps.

(20) The board 4 further comprises a flange which projects from the second surface 11, around a perimeter of the second surface 11. As shown in FIG. 5 the flange 14 has a substantially constant height ‘h’ above the second surface 11. Each of the plurality of tube members 12 project to a height ‘H’ above second surface 11 which is greater than the height ‘h’ of the flange 14; in other words the plurality of tube members 12 project to a greater height above second surface 11 than the flange 14. Thus when two or more boards 4 are stacked, and the second, free end 12b of each of the respective tube member 12 of a board are received into respective grooves 30 defined in the first surface 10 of another board, the flange 14 of the board does not abut the first surface 10 of said other board, thus allowing air to flow freely from an environment external to the beehive into network of air-channels defined by the tube members 12 which are between the stacked boards.

(21) Additionally, as can be seen in FIG. 5, the board 4 further comprises one or more stabilization members 35. In this example the board 4 further comprises a plurality of stabilization members 35. Each stabilization member 35 projects from the second surface 11, and extends laterally from a portion of the flange 14 which defines one side of the board 4, to a portion of flange 14 which defined an opposite side of the board 4. The height above the second surface 11 to which each stabilization members 35 projects is less than the height ‘H’ above the second surface 11 to which the tube members 12 project to.

(22) In stacks 3a, 3b the boards 4 are stacked by contacting the second, free end 12b of each of the respective tube member 12 of a board with respective grooves 30 defined in the first surface 10 of the adjacent board 4 as represented in FIG. 6. To facilitate understanding, FIG. 6 is a partial view of the stacks 3a and 3b and does not represent all the boards of the stacks 3a and 3b. Upon stacking, the tube members 12 of adjacent boards 4 align to define extended tubular cavities 16 in which bees can nest. In FIG. 6, four boards 4 are stacked (for illustration).

(23) The stack 3a may further comprise a back wall 9 which is arranged to abut the second, free ends 12b of each of the respective tube members 12 of the exit board 7a and to abut the second, free ends 12b of each of the respective tube members 12 of the exit board 7b of the adjacent stack 3b. The back ball 9 may be sandwiched between the exit board 7a and the exit board 7b. As can be seen in FIG. 6, in this example, the exit board 7b has the opposite orientation to the orientation of the exit board 7a. The back wall 9 closes the respective tube members 12 provided in the exit board 7b; and also closes the extended tubular cavities 16 formed by the stack of four boards 4 by closing the respective tube members 12 provided in the exit board 7a so that each of the extended tubular cavities 16 has only one respective opening defined by a respective hole 15 defined in the first surface 10 of the entry boards 6a and 6b (not shown) respectively. Alternatively, the stacks can comprise individual back walls or other items that close each tubular cavity 16.

(24) The stacks 3a, 3b may further comprise holes 20 defined in the first surface 10 of each board 4 for screws 17 that go through the stacks 3a, 3b and are screwed in a bolt 18 on the entry board 6. The hole/screw/bolt system is an attachment means that help maintaining sealed contact between the tube members 12 and groove 30 of the boards 4.

(25) The stacks 3a, 3b further comprise a hole 19 for receiving a container with a starting population of bees.

(26) In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of forming 9 beehive for solitary bees and/or wasps (i.e. a method of forming the afore mentioned device (1)), the method comprising the steps of:

(27) i) Providing a plurality of boards (4) according to claim 1;

(28) ii) Stacking the plurality of boards by arranging at least a first board (4) so that the second, free ends 12b of the respective tube members (12) of the first board (4) abut the first surface (10) of a second, adjacent, board (4), so that the respective tube members (12) of the first board (4) are aligned with the holes (15) defined in the first surface (10) of the second, adjacent, board (4), such that the tubes of the first and second boards form extended tubular cavities (16).

(29) In an embodiment the first surface (10) of each of the plurality of boards (4), around each of the respective holes 15 there may be defined a respective grove 30, and the step of stacking the plurality of boards by arranging at least a first board (4) so that the second, free ends 12b of the respective tube members (12) of the first board (4) abut the first surface (10) of a second, adjacent, board (4), may comprise stacking the plurality of boards by arranging at least a first board (4) so that the second, free ends 12b of the respective tube members (12) of the first board (4) abuts respective groves 30 defined in the first surface (10) of the second board.

(30) In an embodiment a first board in the stack defines an entry board (6) and a last board in the stack defines an exit board (7) and wherein the method further comprises the step of arranging a back wall (9) to abut the second, free ends 12b of the respective tube members (12) of the exit board (7) so that the back wall (9) closes one end of the tubular cavities (16), and each respective tubular cavity (16) has a single opening only defined by a respective hole (15) defined in the first surface (10) of the entry board (6).

(31) In an embodiment an attachment means (17,18) is used to maintain the boards (4) which form the stack (3a;3b) in abutment.

(32) In an embodiment the method further comprises the step of orientating the stack (3a, b) such that the tubular cavities (16) extend in a direction which is parallel to the direction of gravity. In other words the stack (3a, b) is vertically laminated stack so that the first surface (10) and the second surface (11) of the boards of the stacks (3a, b) are arranged to extend in a direction following to the direction of gravity.

(33) In yet a further embodiment the method further comprises the step orientating the stack (3a, b) such that the tubular cavities (16) extend in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction of gravity. In other words the stack (3a, b) is a horizontally laminated stack so that the first surface (10) and the second surface (11) of the boards of the stacks (3a, b) are arranged to extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity.

(34) Various modifications and variations to the described embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiment. For example:

(35) In should be understood that the board (4) of the present invention is preferably composed of one or more of the materials chosen among plastic polymers; such as, for example, PVC or a polypropylene derivative, such as for instance Moplen.

(36) It should also be noted that board (4) of the present invention is reusable; for example if a board is used in a beehive for a period of time, that same board may be reused in another beehive for another period of time.

(37) Preferably the board (4) of the present invention is formed by die casting. For example, at least one board (4) of the stack (3a;3b) is die casted.

REFERENCES

(38) 1 Device according to a first embodiment

(39) 2 Housing

(40) 3a,3b Stack

(41) 4 Board

(42) 5 Opening of the housing

(43) 6a,b Entry board

(44) 7a,b Exit board

(45) 8 Intermediate board

(46) 9 Back wall

(47) 10 First surface

(48) 11 Second surface

(49) 12 Tubular members

(50) 14 Flange

(51) 15 hole

(52) 16 Tubular cavity

(53) 17 Screw

(54) 18 Bolt

(55) 19 Hole for container

(56) 20 Hole for screw

(57) 30 groove

(58) 35 stabilization member

(59) 12a First end of tubular member

(60) 12b Second, opposite, end of tubular member