Method for preventing escaping of bees from a hive and device for implementing same

Abstract

A method to inhibit bees from escaping a hive through a hive entrance, including the steps of providing a source for cooling air, and operating the source for cooling air to provide air cooling at the hive entrance to a temperature below 14? C. to provide thermal conditions at the hive entrance that inhibit bees from leaving the hive through the hive entrance.

Claims

1. A method to inhibit bees from escaping a hive through a hive entrance, comprising the steps of: providing a source for cooling air, and operating the source for cooling air to provide air cooling at the hive entrance to a temperature below 14? C. to provide thermal conditions at the hive entrance that inhibit bees from leaving the hive through the hive entrance.

2. An appliance to prevent bees from escaping a hive, whereas the improvement comprises a thermoelectric module with radiators located directly at a hive entrance, the thermoelectric module being connected to an electric power source and operated to cool air at the hive entrance to a temperature below 14? C.

3. The appliance according to the claim 2, further comprising locating the thermoelectric module directly below the hive entrance on a metal surface of a supporting stationary or movable stand on which the hive is supported.

4. The appliance according to the claim 2, further comprising a programmable thermal controller operably associated with the thermoelectric module for remotely controlling operation of the thermoelectric module.

5. A method to inhibit bees from escaping a bee hive having a bee entrance location, comprising the steps of: locating a source for cool air proximate the bee entrance location of the bee hive; and operating the source for cool air to maintain air within the bee hive proximate the entrance location of the bee hive at a temperature below about 14? C.

Description

(1) Practical realization of the claimed method in the simplest case is performed in the following way: in the removable frame 1 (FIG. 1) of the bottom board 2 of the beehive the Peltier thermoelectric module 3 with the radiators on both sides is mounted such, that the surface of its upper radiator should be placed directly under the hive entrance formed by the entrance reducer 4 and the mesh 5, and is connected through a thermal controller with sensors with an electric power source (battery, solar panel, electric mains, generator, etc.). Power of the Peltier thermoelectric module 3 and its feeding current rate, as well as thermal controller settings, are selected that the air near the hive entrance is cooled below 14? C. The bee colony considers it as a natural fall of temperature, stops its flight activities, and goes to the prudent use of food stores in the hive.

(2) When fixing the Peltier thermoelectric module 3 on the metal part of the stand or support structure 6 (FIG. 2), which acts as a lower radiator in this case, it is necessary for the upper radiator should contact with the internal hive entrance space. Thermal controller equipped with a sensor bank regulates the power supply of the Peltier thermoelectric module in such a way that air near a hive entrance is cooled below 14? C.

(3) Similarly, the claimed appliance operates during transportation of the bee colonies. However, in respect that the bees are extra excited due to thumbs and the possibility of blowing out the cooled air through the hive entrance, it is advisable to cool air to 10-12? C. during transportation.

(4) That temperature (below 10-12? C.) significantly slows down the development of wax moths. For protecting the honeycombs against eradication by these vermin they should be removed from the bee colonies and folded in boxes in several tiers in a cool room. Then the bottom board or removable frame of the bottom board with the cooling appliance should be installed above them and the cooler should be plugged in to cool air in boxes with honeycomb to temperatures below 10-12? C.

(5) In the autumn-winter period, the bee colony consumes honey for heating and releases a significant amount of water vapor. Heating the air in the hive bottom board to a temperature of 3-5? C. can significantly reduce honey consumption and the release of harmful moisture. If the temperature rises to 8-10? C., the winter cluster is destroyed and feed consumption increases sharply. Besides, the temperature elevation can cause the appearance of early brood which requires constant intensive heating and often to bee colony collapse in winter. Thus, in the autumn-winter period, it is advisable to maintain the temperature in the bottom board of the hive at the level of 3-5? C., programming the thermal controller of the claimed appliance for two-way work on heating-cooling by changing the direction of current flow through the Peltier thermoelectric module.

(6) As a rule, at the end of winter in the center of the bee cluster, the temperature rises to 35? C. and brood-rearing begins. Additional air heating at this time can significantly reduce feed consumption and stimulate the development of the colony. In order not to cause flying out the bees from the hive at low external temperatures, heating in the bottom board of the hive during daylight hours should be carried out no higher than 12-14? C. and provide the bees with water using an intra-hive drinking bowl.

(7) During honey harvesting, the bees are forced to evaporate excessive amounts of moisture from the nectar by intensive ventilation airing. That is why heating the air at this time, especially at night, up to 35? C. can significantly increase the intensity of honey aging and significantly reduce the wear and tear of bees at the same time.

(8) It is possible to improve the health of bees and free them from parasites by heating the hive to a temperature within 38-42? C. for a certain period of time, as proposed in patents RU2395197, U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,363,984, 9,999,204 and in application WO2015/087198. Thermal sensors must be installed in the brood part of the beehive.

(9) Claimed appliance operates in standalone mode, still, with the help of wired communication modules or wireless data transmission according to Wi-Fi/GSM/LPWAN/Bluetooth similar to UA No 133650, it is possible to control the operation of appliances locally or remotely from electronic digital devices and change the mode of their operation.

(10) The claimed method and appliances can be implemented using existing tools and technologies.