GB2495284A

GB2495284A - Beehive entrance Varroa mite trap

Info

Publication number: GB2495284A
Application number: GB1116930.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart Roweth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-09-30
Filing date: 2011-09-30
Publication date: 2013-04-10
Also published as: GB201116930D0

Abstract

A beehive entrance which encourages honey bees to bend forwards at an angle articulating their bodies as they go up and over a horizontal ridge 1. As they do this any Varroa mites clinging to the bees become exposed and are pulled off by horizontal fine threads 2 fixed above the ridge. The mites drop down through a permeable floor 4 into a collecting area 5 below and are caught in a sticky substance. Preferably the entrance incorporates a number of barriers 3 to deflect downwards any mites propelled away from the bee.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Beehive Entrance Varroa Trap The invention relates to a beehive entrance, which traps Varroa mites.

Varroa destructor is a small mite, which attaches itself to honey bees and their larvae, in order to suck at the fluid in the bees circulatory system called the hemolymph. The mite is passed on from one colony to another by riding on the back of worker bees or drones, then transferring to other bees when the drone enters a different hive, or when a worker bee mixes with bees from another colony. This might happen if bees from one colony are robbing another hive, or if beekeepers merge colonies together. ihe Varroa mite is thought to be a factor in the phenomenon known as colony coHapse disorder. Several chemical treatments are available to combat Varroa destructor, however these have disadvantageous side effects such as deterring the queen from laying and tainting the honey in the hive at the time.

To help control the spread of Varroa destructor this invention is designed to trap the mites coming and going from the hive, on the backs of honey bees. It relies upon the fact that honey bees are very flexible; as a bee goes over the horizontal ridge 1 it bends forward. Once it bends 30 degrees or more, its segmented body starts to open out. exposing the Varroa mites, which are subsequently cleaned off by the horizontal fine threads 2 fixed above the ridge.

The main advantage of this invention is that mites that attach themselves behind the bee's head or thorax, are exposed as they go over the ridge, they are then cleaned off by the horizontal threads above. Without the horizontal ridge these mites would get through into the hive.

Because the fine threads are flexible, the bees can pass through and under them without injuring themselves, also without loosing the pollen many of them are carrying.

Another advantage of using this invention is that mite numbers can be reduced at any time of the year, whenever the bees pass through the entrance.

Using mechanical means for grooming mites from the bees could reduce a beekeeper's need to use chemical treatments.

If used on a Varroa free hive the trap could help to keep the mites out in the first place.

Examples of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: * Drawing 1 shows a side view of the invention in cross-section, as an external beehive entrance * Drawing 2 shows the invention as an external beehive entrance from the front, with one of the barriers 3 removed so that the horizontal ridge 1 and the threads 2 can be seen.

* Drawing 3 shows an alternative arrangement of the invention as an internal beehive entrance, seen from the side in cross-section.

The Invention is a beehive entrance, which can be fabricated as an external beehive entrance as in drawings 1 and 2, or as an internal beehive entrance as in drawing 3. In the external arrangement the entrance would be attached to the front of the beehive, covering the existing hive entrance. In the internal arrangement the invention would replace the existing entrance section of the hive.

The key components of the invention are; the horizontal shaped ridge 1, which the bees crawl over, and one or more skirts of horizontal fine threads 2 running across the width of the entrance box above the ridge.

Bee's bodies are highly flexible; they are able to bend up to 180 degrees from articulation points behind the head and behind the thorax. It is on top of the thorax as well as the intersectional spaces on the bee that the Varroa destructor mites often attach themselves.

As the bees enter the invention they move up and over the horizontal ridge 1, which causes their bodies to bend forwards. As the bee bends at an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal, the sections of its body begin to open up and roll forwards. At an angle of 50 degrees or more mites hidden in the intersectional parts of the bee become exposed. The mites are then caught by one of the horizontal fine threads 2 located above the ridge; the threads act like trip-wires, pulling the mite away from the bee. As the mite is pulled away it is often propelled at some speed, for this reason the invention could incorporate one or more vertical barriers 3. Mites propelled off the backs of the bees hit these barriers and are deflected downwards. As the mites fall they drop through the permeable floor 4 of the entrance box into the collecting tray 5 below, where they are caught in a sticky substance.

The collection tray is divided in half along the line of the centre of the horizontal ridge. This allows the beekeeper to see which side of the horizontal ridge the mites were coming from, and identifies whether they were entering or leaving the hive.

The permeable floor 4 could be made from wire mesh as in many beehives, so that falling mites would drop through it. Alternatively plastic or wire spokes could be used as the bees could crawl across, while mites would fall through.

The design aflows for the horizontal ridge 1 to be replaced with a lower or higher one so that the gap between the ridge and the threads 2 can be adjusted between 4 millimetres and 9 millimetres. It is also possible for the beekeeper to vary the height and the amount of threads 2. Using these adjustments it is possible to set the trap to a smaller or larger opening.

Beehives often have wire mesh floors to help control Varroa mite numbers. When the invention is used as an internal hive entrance, (Drawing 3) the design incorporates a wire mesh floor 6. In this version of the design the horizontal ridge 1, the threads 2 and the vertical barriers 3 would be located in a separate entrance section of the hive, under the lower brood box 7.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A beehive entrance comprising a raised horizontal ridge set on a permeable floor under which there is a collection area; above the ridge are one or more skirts of horizontal fine threads; around the ridge the design might include any number of vertical barriers to deflect the mites downwards into the collection area.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A beehive entrance as in claim 1, where the horizontal ridge encourages the bees to bend to an angle of 50 degrees or more, whereby any mites clinging or hiding on the bee become proud of the bees body.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A beehive entrance as in claim 1, in which the skirts of horizontal fine threads are sufficiently flexible for the bees to pass under, but taught enough to dislodge the Varroa mites or other parasites.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A beehive entrance where the collection area below the horizontal ridge, is divided in two across the width of the entrance; from the location of the trapped mites the beekeeper can tell if the mites were entering or leaving the hive.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A beehive entrance as in claim 1, in which means can be provided to add or take out the skirts of fine threads, in order to vary the path of the bee over the horizontal shaped ridge.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A beehive entrance as in claim 1, in which means could be provided to interchange the horizontal shaped ridge with another ridge that protrudes upwards more or less than the first one, in order to adjust the gap between the ridge and the skirts of fine threads.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A beehive entrance as in claim 1, in which the floor is either made of mesh or plastic or wire spokes such that varroa mites, but not bees, can fall through.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A beehive entrance as described in all previous claims, which is either external to a beehive or incorporated within it.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A beehive entrance as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings</claim-text>