WO2008067602A1 - Method and apparatus for controlling infestation of beehives - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for controlling infestation of beehives Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008067602A1
WO2008067602A1 PCT/AU2007/001878 AU2007001878W WO2008067602A1 WO 2008067602 A1 WO2008067602 A1 WO 2008067602A1 AU 2007001878 W AU2007001878 W AU 2007001878W WO 2008067602 A1 WO2008067602 A1 WO 2008067602A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
beehive
base
receptacle
tray
small hive
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2007/001878
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Leslie William Heenan
Patricia Margaret Heenan
Original Assignee
Leslie William Heenan
Patricia Margaret Heenan
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2006906799A external-priority patent/AU2006906799A0/en
Application filed by Leslie William Heenan, Patricia Margaret Heenan filed Critical Leslie William Heenan
Priority to AU2007329182A priority Critical patent/AU2007329182A1/en
Publication of WO2008067602A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008067602A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K51/00—Appliances for treating beehives or parts thereof, e.g. for cleaning or disinfecting
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
    • A01M1/00—Stationary means for catching or killing insects
    • A01M1/10—Catching insects by using Traps
    • A01M1/106—Catching insects by using Traps for flying insects

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to the control of infestation of beehives and is particularly concerned with infestation caused by small hive beetles.
  • the small hive beetle was introduced from South Africa and has now spread over the east coast of Australia.
  • the beetle infests the hives, eats larvae honey and can contaminate the hive with their subsequent waste resulting in the eviction of bees if the population of the beetles reaches a certain threshold level.
  • the problems associated with these methods are the subsequent contamination of the honey through contact with the substances included in the trays and the frequent maintenance of having to dissemble the hive in which to remove and/or service these trays containing the detrimental substances.
  • a method for controlling infestation of a beehive caused by small hive beetles including the steps of providing holes in a base of the beehive which are configured to facilitate the passage of small hive beetles therethrough but inhibiting the passage of bees therethrough, and locating a receptacle adjacent the holes externally of the beehive for collecting the small hive beetles therein.
  • the method may further include the step of providing a substance within the receptacle which is deleterious to the small hive beetle.
  • the apparatus including a receptacle which is adapted to be arranged adjacent the base of the beehive and below the holes therein.
  • the receptacle may be arranged relative to the base of the beehive so that its interior is relatively dark compared with the interior of the beehive.
  • the receptacle may include an open topped tray including mounting sections which are adapted to cooperate with mounting sections on the beehive so that in an installed position, the tray is arranged with the open top adjacent the external surface of the base adjacent the holes therein.
  • the mounting sections on the tray may include flanges on the opposed sides of the tray preferably at the edge of the open top.
  • the mounting sections on the beehive may include a pair of spaced apart rails on the underside of the base each rail having a recessed section which is adapted to slidably receive a respective one of the flanges therein when the tray is in the installed position.
  • the deleterious material may be chosen from lime, for example, although it will be appreciated that other materials could be used.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic end view of apparatus according to the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section of a tray for apparatus according to the invention that part to the left of the broken line being a section taken along the line A-A in figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a plan view partly in section of the tray shown in figure 2 that part to the left of the broken line being a section taken along the line B-B in figure 1.
  • the beehive includes a base 30 having a plurality of holes 32 therein which extend through the base 30 from the interior of the beehive to externally thereof.
  • the holes are dimensioned such that small hive beetles can pass through the holes but bees are inhibited from passing therethrough.
  • the holes may have a width of about 3mm and preferably less than 2.5mm.
  • the apparatus includes a receptacle in the form of an open topped tray 10 having an open side 12.
  • the tray is adapted to be positioned externally of the beehive so that the open top 12 is disposed adjacent the holes 32.
  • the tray 10 may be mounted to the base 30.
  • the tray 10 is an elongated body having opposed side walls 14 and 15 with mounting flanges 16 and 17 thereon.
  • a tray mounting section includes a pair of parallel spaced apart rails 21 and 22 which are secured to the underside of the base 30 of the beehive.
  • Each rail 21 and 22 includes a recessed section 23 and 24 which are adapted to receive respective flanges 16 and 17 therein, the flanges being slidably received within the recesses so that the tray 10 is suspended from and held against the underside of the base 30 of the beehive.
  • the tray 10 includes a handle 19 by which the tray can be gripped for mounting and removing the tray from the base of the beehive.
  • the tray 10 can have therein a substance which is deleterious to the small hive beetle.
  • the substance may be lime or any other substance which can eventually kill or immobilise the small hive beetle.
  • the trays can be of any suitable size, shape or configuration.
  • the tray is generally rectangular in plan and may be about 350 mm long, 50 mm wide and 35 mm deep.
  • On or more tray assemblies may be provided on the base of the beehive arranged in any suitable configuration. - A -
  • the present invention exhibits many advantages over currently known techniques. For example the trays can be removed, inspected and cleaned without opening the beehive. Bees are inhibited from entering the tray.
  • the apparatus can be retrofitted to existing beehives which can function in the usual manner. No toxic chemicals are required.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Insects & Arthropods (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Animal Husbandry (AREA)
  • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling infestation of a beehive from small hive beetles. The method includes the steps of providing holes in a base of the beehive configured to permit the passage of small hive beetles therethrough but inhibiting the passage of bees therethrough, and locating a receptacle adjacent the holes externally of the beehive for collecting the small hive beetles therein. The apparatus includes a receptacle which is adapted to be arranged adjacent the base of the beehive and below the hole therein.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING INFESTATION OF BEEHIVES
This invention relates generally to the control of infestation of beehives and is particularly concerned with infestation caused by small hive beetles.
The small hive beetle was introduced from South Africa and has now spread over the east coast of Australia. The beetle infests the hives, eats larvae honey and can contaminate the hive with their subsequent waste resulting in the eviction of bees if the population of the beetles reaches a certain threshold level. There have been previous attempts at solving the problem, but these mainly revolve around inserting trays of substances within the hive that are detrimental to the hive beetle and not to the bees. However, the problems associated with these methods are the subsequent contamination of the honey through contact with the substances included in the trays and the frequent maintenance of having to dissemble the hive in which to remove and/or service these trays containing the detrimental substances.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for controlling infestation of a beehive caused by small hive beetles including the steps of providing holes in a base of the beehive which are configured to facilitate the passage of small hive beetles therethrough but inhibiting the passage of bees therethrough, and locating a receptacle adjacent the holes externally of the beehive for collecting the small hive beetles therein.
The method may further include the step of providing a substance within the receptacle which is deleterious to the small hive beetle.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in the method described above, the apparatus including a receptacle which is adapted to be arranged adjacent the base of the beehive and below the holes therein. The receptacle may be arranged relative to the base of the beehive so that its interior is relatively dark compared with the interior of the beehive. In one form the receptacle may include an open topped tray including mounting sections which are adapted to cooperate with mounting sections on the beehive so that in an installed position, the tray is arranged with the open top adjacent the external surface of the base adjacent the holes therein.
In one form the mounting sections on the tray may include flanges on the opposed sides of the tray preferably at the edge of the open top. The mounting sections on the beehive may include a pair of spaced apart rails on the underside of the base each rail having a recessed section which is adapted to slidably receive a respective one of the flanges therein when the tray is in the installed position.
Preferably the deleterious material may be chosen from lime, for example, although it will be appreciated that other materials could be used.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in those drawings:
Figure 1 is a schematic end view of apparatus according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section of a tray for apparatus according to the invention that part to the left of the broken line being a section taken along the line A-A in figure 1 ; and
Figure 3 is a plan view partly in section of the tray shown in figure 2 that part to the left of the broken line being a section taken along the line B-B in figure 1.
Referring to the drawings there is shown apparatus which is suitable for use in the control of infestation of beehives caused by small hive beetles. The beehive includes a base 30 having a plurality of holes 32 therein which extend through the base 30 from the interior of the beehive to externally thereof. The holes are dimensioned such that small hive beetles can pass through the holes but bees are inhibited from passing therethrough. For example the holes may have a width of about 3mm and preferably less than 2.5mm.
The apparatus includes a receptacle in the form of an open topped tray 10 having an open side 12. The tray is adapted to be positioned externally of the beehive so that the open top 12 is disposed adjacent the holes 32. As shown the tray 10 may be mounted to the base 30. The tray 10 is an elongated body having opposed side walls 14 and 15 with mounting flanges 16 and 17 thereon.
A tray mounting section includes a pair of parallel spaced apart rails 21 and 22 which are secured to the underside of the base 30 of the beehive. Each rail 21 and 22 includes a recessed section 23 and 24 which are adapted to receive respective flanges 16 and 17 therein, the flanges being slidably received within the recesses so that the tray 10 is suspended from and held against the underside of the base 30 of the beehive. When installed the open top side 12 of the tray is immediately adjacent the holes 32 in the base 30. Because of this configuration the amount of light which can enter the interior of the tray is limited. The tray 10 includes a handle 19 by which the tray can be gripped for mounting and removing the tray from the base of the beehive.
The tray 10 can have therein a substance which is deleterious to the small hive beetle. The substance may be lime or any other substance which can eventually kill or immobilise the small hive beetle. The trays can be of any suitable size, shape or configuration. For example, in one embodiment the tray is generally rectangular in plan and may be about 350 mm long, 50 mm wide and 35 mm deep.
In operation small hive beetles are attracted to the relative darkness of the tray interior and tend to move through the holes from the interior of the beehive into the tray whereupon they are in contact with the substances therein.
On or more tray assemblies may be provided on the base of the beehive arranged in any suitable configuration. - A -
The present invention exhibits many advantages over currently known techniques. For example the trays can be removed, inspected and cleaned without opening the beehive. Bees are inhibited from entering the tray. The apparatus can be retrofitted to existing beehives which can function in the usual manner. No toxic chemicals are required.
The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.
Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
Finally, it is to be understood that the various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method for controlling infestation of a beehive from small hive beetles including the steps of providing holes in a base of the beehive configured to permit the passage of small hive beetles therethrough but inhibiting the passage of bees therethrough, and locating a receptacle adjacent the holes externally of the beehive for collecting the small hive beetles therein.
2. A method according to claim 1 including providing a substance within the receptacle which is deleterious to the small hive beetle.
3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the receptacle is arranged relative to the base of the beehive so that its interior is relatively dark compared with the interior of the beehive.
4. Apparatus for use in the method of claim 1 or claim 2 including a receptacle which is adapted to be arranged adjacent the base of the beehive and below the hole therein.
5. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the receptacle includes an open topped tray including mountings which are adapted to cooperate with mountings on the beehive so as to position it with the open top adjacent the external surface of the base.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the mounting includes a rail on the beehive base spaced therefrom so as to form a slot and said mounting on the tray includes a flange on an edge of the tray which is slidably receivable within the slot.
7. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the detrimental material is lime.
8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the receptacle is arranged relative to the base of the beehive so that its interior is relatively dark compared with the interior of the beehive.
9. A method for controlling infestation of a beehive from small hive beetles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
PCT/AU2007/001878 2006-12-05 2007-12-05 Method and apparatus for controlling infestation of beehives WO2008067602A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2007329182A AU2007329182A1 (en) 2006-12-05 2007-12-05 Method and apparatus for controlling infestation of beehives

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2006906799A AU2006906799A0 (en) 2006-12-05 Method and apparatus for controlling infestation of beehives
AU2006906799 2006-12-05

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008067602A1 true WO2008067602A1 (en) 2008-06-12

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2007/001878 WO2008067602A1 (en) 2006-12-05 2007-12-05 Method and apparatus for controlling infestation of beehives

Country Status (2)

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AU (1) AU2007329182A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2008067602A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130019518A1 (en) * 2011-07-21 2013-01-24 David Miller Small hive beetle trap attachment for bee hives

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4867731A (en) * 1988-03-15 1989-09-19 Joel Willard Detection of infestation of bees
US6468129B1 (en) * 2000-03-03 2002-10-22 Granville Griffith Beehive bottom board for reducing parasite infestation
CA2450305A1 (en) * 2003-11-20 2005-05-20 Dimo's Tool & Die Ltd. Screen insert for beehive
US20060141904A1 (en) * 2004-12-29 2006-06-29 Teal Peter E A In-hive trap and attractant composition for the control of the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4867731A (en) * 1988-03-15 1989-09-19 Joel Willard Detection of infestation of bees
US6468129B1 (en) * 2000-03-03 2002-10-22 Granville Griffith Beehive bottom board for reducing parasite infestation
CA2450305A1 (en) * 2003-11-20 2005-05-20 Dimo's Tool & Die Ltd. Screen insert for beehive
US20060141904A1 (en) * 2004-12-29 2006-06-29 Teal Peter E A In-hive trap and attractant composition for the control of the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
"APIS (Apicultural Information and Issues)", vol. 18, no. 2, February 2000 (2000-02-01), pages 3, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:http://www.apis.ifas.ufl.edu/apis_2000/pdf/Feb_ap00.pdf> *
"OHIO INFO BEE", OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICE, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, NEWSLETTER, vol. 1, no. 4, November 2005 (2005-11-01), Retrieved from the Internet <URL:http://www.nwoba.honeyrunapiaries.com/pdf/November_2005.pdf> *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130019518A1 (en) * 2011-07-21 2013-01-24 David Miller Small hive beetle trap attachment for bee hives

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Publication number Publication date
AU2007329182A1 (en) 2008-06-12

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