CA2450305C - Screen insert for beehive - Google Patents
Screen insert for beehive Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2450305C CA2450305C CA2450305A CA2450305A CA2450305C CA 2450305 C CA2450305 C CA 2450305C CA 2450305 A CA2450305 A CA 2450305A CA 2450305 A CA2450305 A CA 2450305A CA 2450305 C CA2450305 C CA 2450305C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- peripheral frame
- screen
- screen insert
- bottom board
- insert
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A01K47/00—Beehives
- A01K47/06—Other details of beehives, e.g. ventilating devices, entrances to hives, guards, partitions or bee escapes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A01K15/00—Devices for taming animals, e.g. nose-rings or hobbles; Devices for overturning animals in general; Training or exercising equipment; Covering boxes
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Husbandry (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
Abstract
A screen insert is provided for use with beehives, the screen insert for insertion between a bottom board and a brood chamber, the screen insert comprising: a peripheral frame; a screen mounted an the peripheral frame, the screen having a mesh opening size configured to allow passage of mites and configured to disallow passage of bees; and an aperture defined by the peripheral frame and the brood chamber. The screen insert preferably comprises stabilizer fins on the peripheral frame, a ledge an a forward side surface of the peripheral frame, and mounting holes in the peripheral frame for mounting the peripheral frame on the bottom board.¿
Description
SCREEN INSEI~.T t=~JR BtrEHIVE
FIELD t~F THE INVENTICIN
The present invention relates to beehive structures, and more particularly to beehive structures addressing mite infestation_ BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Frarn 1995 to 9999, honey production in Canada ranged from 60 to 90 million pounds, of which appmxirnately 25 to 50 percent is exported to international markets. In addition to prr~dueing honey, bees play an important role in Canada by pollinating the flowers of many different high value crops. Colonses arse made up of three castes, the queen, drones and workers. The queen is responsible for Paying eggs, workers for tending to all hive duties, and drones for mating the queen.
fJn the Canadian prairies the honey pmductian season fasts four months, from May to August. Honeybees become actirre and may fly on warm days in April, however, in most parts of Canada, producers leave the hive in its winter wrapping until mid-April.
Initially, pollen and nectar are necessary far honeybee brood-rearing and there is usuaity no surplus honey until dandelions bloom in April ar May, On the prairies, most colonies are wrapped with itlsulation and over-wintered outdoors. Honeybee mortality ranga~s from 20 to 55 percent when using this method. Honeybees da not hibernate . during the winter, instead they stay active within the hive. As a ccalony, they can survive outside temperatures dawn to -40 degrees Celsius.
Typically a beehive consists of a solid surface bottom board, upon which brood chambers and supers (hive bodies) are stacked as desired. Inside the upper components of the beehive are frames on which bees build honeycombs, rear brood, and deposit honey. To enter the hive, bees land at the front opening of the hive, walk clang a solid surface bottom board under the brand chamlser then travel upwards into the vertically mounted frames.
FIELD t~F THE INVENTICIN
The present invention relates to beehive structures, and more particularly to beehive structures addressing mite infestation_ BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Frarn 1995 to 9999, honey production in Canada ranged from 60 to 90 million pounds, of which appmxirnately 25 to 50 percent is exported to international markets. In addition to prr~dueing honey, bees play an important role in Canada by pollinating the flowers of many different high value crops. Colonses arse made up of three castes, the queen, drones and workers. The queen is responsible for Paying eggs, workers for tending to all hive duties, and drones for mating the queen.
fJn the Canadian prairies the honey pmductian season fasts four months, from May to August. Honeybees become actirre and may fly on warm days in April, however, in most parts of Canada, producers leave the hive in its winter wrapping until mid-April.
Initially, pollen and nectar are necessary far honeybee brood-rearing and there is usuaity no surplus honey until dandelions bloom in April ar May, On the prairies, most colonies are wrapped with itlsulation and over-wintered outdoors. Honeybee mortality ranga~s from 20 to 55 percent when using this method. Honeybees da not hibernate . during the winter, instead they stay active within the hive. As a ccalony, they can survive outside temperatures dawn to -40 degrees Celsius.
Typically a beehive consists of a solid surface bottom board, upon which brood chambers and supers (hive bodies) are stacked as desired. Inside the upper components of the beehive are frames on which bees build honeycombs, rear brood, and deposit honey. To enter the hive, bees land at the front opening of the hive, walk clang a solid surface bottom board under the brand chamlser then travel upwards into the vertically mounted frames.
The number of honeybee colonies managed in Canada during the 2002 production year was 585,~Dg0. Manitoba and Saskatchewan account for approximately 185,000 of the total number of colonies in Canada and have the highest production (kg/colony) of honey per colony. Unfortunately, the masority of these colonies are now under threat from an external parasite called the Varroa mite.
The arrive! of the Varroa mite into Canada from the United States was first reported in New Brunswick during the 1989 production season. Since then it has steadily spread into the majority of honey production areas In Canada. The mite is an external parasite that attaches itself to the developing larvae and feeds on its body fluids. (f left untreated the mites reproduce and can kill the entire calany in 1 or 2 seasons. Chemical treatments to reduce the impact of mites on the bees are available, however, resistance to insecticides has now been reported in Canada. An integrated pest ~mana~ement approach to control Varroa mites is now being implemented in Canada. insecticides combined with non-chemical control techniques must be used td manage the mite population and hopefully delay the development of resisfiance. Autumn is the best time for Van-oa mite treatment since bee brood production is dropping off and there are fewer opportunities for the female Varroa mite to (ay eggs in the cells with developing bee larvae. After honey is extracted, insecticide strips are usually placed inside the brood chamber far Varroa mite contra!.
2fl Honeybees have the ability to groom themsehres as wet) as other bees.
This grooming behaviour can dislodge the mite, causing it to faU out of the brood chamber downwards onto the bottom board. Current production practices making use of the solid surface bottom board allow the mite the possibility of reattaching to another bee entering or exiting the hive while walking slang the batkom board.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a screen insert for _ use with beehives, the screen insert for insertion between a bottom board and a brood chamber, the screen insert comprising:
a peripheral frame;
a screen mounted on the peripheral frame, the screen having a mesh opening size configured to allow passage of mites and configured to disallow passage of bees; and an aperture defined by the peripheral frame and the brood chamber.
!n exemplary embodiments of the present invention, there are stabilizer fins on the peripheral fr~rme, a ledge on a forward side surface of the peripheral 90 frame, and mounting holes in the peripheral frame for mounting the peripheral frame on the bottom board.
A screen insert placed between the botfiom board and brood chamber will provide physical separation of the bees and mites once groomed off or otherwise dislodged. Pmper screen mesh ss'ze allows only mites to fall through and hr~neybees '!5 continue moving in and out of the hive by walking on the screen above the original solid bottom board surface. Mltes do not climb well and are unable to travel upwards and back into the bred chamber, usually dying within several days. This scenario almost entirely eliminates the possibility of re-infestation and would be well received as an additional mite management tool that reduces the dependency ora insecticide 20 control techniques.
A detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is given in the following. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be construed as limited to this embodiment.
BRfEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
25 1n the acoomparryang drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a front elevation view; and Figure 3 is a side elevation view.
pETAILED DESCRiPTIQN OF AN E7ClrMPLAftY EMBt~DIMENT
Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of the screen insert of the present invention generally referred to by the numeral 10. The screen insert 10 is for use with beehives (not shown), the screen insert 10 for Insertion between a bottom board (not shown]
and a brQOd chamber (not shown), the screen ins~rt 10 comprising a peripheral frame 12, a screen 14 mounted on the peripheral frame 12, the screen 14 having a mesh opening size configured to allow passage of unites and cor~flgured to disallow passage of bees, and an aperture 16 defined by the peripflerai frame 12 and the broad chamber. The screen insert 10 further comprises stabilizer fins 18 on the peripheral frame 12, and a ledge 24 on a forward side surface of the peripheral frame 12.
The ledge 2Q can be used for landing by bees, but it also can be used by a beekeeper in handling the screen insert 14, In same preferred embodiments, the screen insert 10 further comprises rnounfiang hales (rat shown) in the peripheral frame 92 fior mounting the peripheral frame 12 on the bottom board, although the stabilizer fins 18 provide the desired stability without recourse to mechanical fastening of the screen insert 10 to the bottom board.
Rapid detection and monitoring of Varroa mite populations is necessary to help control, prevent and delay further colony infestations. Ease of monitoring for Varroa mites is important fio producers and tf~e present invention also functions as a 2b monitoring tool since mites can easily be identified after falling through the screen 14.
in addition, the stabilizer fins 18 prnvlde front to-back and side to-side stability of the -brood chamber and remainder of the hive, which sits on top of the screen insert 1d.
The upward protruding fins 18 will also help to prevent the hive from shifting during hive transportation. The screen insert 10 can also have mounting hales along the left and right upper surface of the peripheral frame 12 that can be used to fasten the screen insert i0 down to the bottom board using wood screws; this will further stabilize the hive stack and allow producers to permanently attach the screen insert '10 to the existing bottom beard if desired. The screen insert 10 is to be placed on top of the original bottom board, which bottom board is preferably reversed 180 degrees so the old hive entrance faces the rear. In preferred embodiments, the screen insert 10 will provide a 1 inch opening for the bees to enter along the front of the hive, walk on top of the screen 14 and (ravel upwards into the brood chamber. Current bottom boards are constructed with either a 0.5 or 0.75 inch opening for the bees to enter the hive, but using the screen insert i0 on top of the existing bottom board will allow the front opening to be 1.0 or 1.25 inches. This dimension is important for future insecticide application devices that are currently under development and must be inserted through the front opening. At this time, a device requiring these front-opening dimensions could not be used because of existing bottom beard dimensions.
For an application device such as this to be used, all existing bottom boards would have to be reconfigured at cansiderat~le and unnecessary cost to producers, but the screen insert 90 proactively addresses this need.
The screen insert 10 is preferably composed of impacfi resistant-reGycied plastic, injection-moulded, with a white colour that is widely believed to attract bees. Traditionally, hive components are made of wood material and require significant regular maintenance. To increase the life apart of the wood it must be painted, usually white, or smeared with wax to help prevent water damage and subsequent decomposition. An injection-moulded, white plastic screen insert would not require any regular maintenance or protection from the elements. This type of constructidn would make it very attractive fdr producers who often have many constraints on their time during the production season.
While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing, it 9s to be understood tJ7at other embodiments are possible urithin the scope of the invention and are intended to be included. herein. It will be clear to any person skilled in the art that modifications of and adjustments to this invention, not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention as demonstrated through the exe~npiary embodiment. The invention is therefore to be ~i4 considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
The arrive! of the Varroa mite into Canada from the United States was first reported in New Brunswick during the 1989 production season. Since then it has steadily spread into the majority of honey production areas In Canada. The mite is an external parasite that attaches itself to the developing larvae and feeds on its body fluids. (f left untreated the mites reproduce and can kill the entire calany in 1 or 2 seasons. Chemical treatments to reduce the impact of mites on the bees are available, however, resistance to insecticides has now been reported in Canada. An integrated pest ~mana~ement approach to control Varroa mites is now being implemented in Canada. insecticides combined with non-chemical control techniques must be used td manage the mite population and hopefully delay the development of resisfiance. Autumn is the best time for Van-oa mite treatment since bee brood production is dropping off and there are fewer opportunities for the female Varroa mite to (ay eggs in the cells with developing bee larvae. After honey is extracted, insecticide strips are usually placed inside the brood chamber far Varroa mite contra!.
2fl Honeybees have the ability to groom themsehres as wet) as other bees.
This grooming behaviour can dislodge the mite, causing it to faU out of the brood chamber downwards onto the bottom board. Current production practices making use of the solid surface bottom board allow the mite the possibility of reattaching to another bee entering or exiting the hive while walking slang the batkom board.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a screen insert for _ use with beehives, the screen insert for insertion between a bottom board and a brood chamber, the screen insert comprising:
a peripheral frame;
a screen mounted on the peripheral frame, the screen having a mesh opening size configured to allow passage of mites and configured to disallow passage of bees; and an aperture defined by the peripheral frame and the brood chamber.
!n exemplary embodiments of the present invention, there are stabilizer fins on the peripheral fr~rme, a ledge on a forward side surface of the peripheral 90 frame, and mounting holes in the peripheral frame for mounting the peripheral frame on the bottom board.
A screen insert placed between the botfiom board and brood chamber will provide physical separation of the bees and mites once groomed off or otherwise dislodged. Pmper screen mesh ss'ze allows only mites to fall through and hr~neybees '!5 continue moving in and out of the hive by walking on the screen above the original solid bottom board surface. Mltes do not climb well and are unable to travel upwards and back into the bred chamber, usually dying within several days. This scenario almost entirely eliminates the possibility of re-infestation and would be well received as an additional mite management tool that reduces the dependency ora insecticide 20 control techniques.
A detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is given in the following. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be construed as limited to this embodiment.
BRfEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
25 1n the acoomparryang drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a front elevation view; and Figure 3 is a side elevation view.
pETAILED DESCRiPTIQN OF AN E7ClrMPLAftY EMBt~DIMENT
Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of the screen insert of the present invention generally referred to by the numeral 10. The screen insert 10 is for use with beehives (not shown), the screen insert 10 for Insertion between a bottom board (not shown]
and a brQOd chamber (not shown), the screen ins~rt 10 comprising a peripheral frame 12, a screen 14 mounted on the peripheral frame 12, the screen 14 having a mesh opening size configured to allow passage of unites and cor~flgured to disallow passage of bees, and an aperture 16 defined by the peripflerai frame 12 and the broad chamber. The screen insert 10 further comprises stabilizer fins 18 on the peripheral frame 12, and a ledge 24 on a forward side surface of the peripheral frame 12.
The ledge 2Q can be used for landing by bees, but it also can be used by a beekeeper in handling the screen insert 14, In same preferred embodiments, the screen insert 10 further comprises rnounfiang hales (rat shown) in the peripheral frame 92 fior mounting the peripheral frame 12 on the bottom board, although the stabilizer fins 18 provide the desired stability without recourse to mechanical fastening of the screen insert 10 to the bottom board.
Rapid detection and monitoring of Varroa mite populations is necessary to help control, prevent and delay further colony infestations. Ease of monitoring for Varroa mites is important fio producers and tf~e present invention also functions as a 2b monitoring tool since mites can easily be identified after falling through the screen 14.
in addition, the stabilizer fins 18 prnvlde front to-back and side to-side stability of the -brood chamber and remainder of the hive, which sits on top of the screen insert 1d.
The upward protruding fins 18 will also help to prevent the hive from shifting during hive transportation. The screen insert 10 can also have mounting hales along the left and right upper surface of the peripheral frame 12 that can be used to fasten the screen insert i0 down to the bottom board using wood screws; this will further stabilize the hive stack and allow producers to permanently attach the screen insert '10 to the existing bottom beard if desired. The screen insert 10 is to be placed on top of the original bottom board, which bottom board is preferably reversed 180 degrees so the old hive entrance faces the rear. In preferred embodiments, the screen insert 10 will provide a 1 inch opening for the bees to enter along the front of the hive, walk on top of the screen 14 and (ravel upwards into the brood chamber. Current bottom boards are constructed with either a 0.5 or 0.75 inch opening for the bees to enter the hive, but using the screen insert i0 on top of the existing bottom board will allow the front opening to be 1.0 or 1.25 inches. This dimension is important for future insecticide application devices that are currently under development and must be inserted through the front opening. At this time, a device requiring these front-opening dimensions could not be used because of existing bottom beard dimensions.
For an application device such as this to be used, all existing bottom boards would have to be reconfigured at cansiderat~le and unnecessary cost to producers, but the screen insert 90 proactively addresses this need.
The screen insert 10 is preferably composed of impacfi resistant-reGycied plastic, injection-moulded, with a white colour that is widely believed to attract bees. Traditionally, hive components are made of wood material and require significant regular maintenance. To increase the life apart of the wood it must be painted, usually white, or smeared with wax to help prevent water damage and subsequent decomposition. An injection-moulded, white plastic screen insert would not require any regular maintenance or protection from the elements. This type of constructidn would make it very attractive fdr producers who often have many constraints on their time during the production season.
While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing, it 9s to be understood tJ7at other embodiments are possible urithin the scope of the invention and are intended to be included. herein. It will be clear to any person skilled in the art that modifications of and adjustments to this invention, not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention as demonstrated through the exe~npiary embodiment. The invention is therefore to be ~i4 considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (4)
1. A screen insert for use with beehives, the screen insert for insertion between a bottom board and a brood chamber, the screen insert comprising:
a peripheral frame;
a screen mounted on the peripheral frame, the screen having a mesh opening size configured to allow passage of mites and configured to disallow passage of bees; and an aperture defined by the peripheral frame and the brood chamber.
a peripheral frame;
a screen mounted on the peripheral frame, the screen having a mesh opening size configured to allow passage of mites and configured to disallow passage of bees; and an aperture defined by the peripheral frame and the brood chamber.
2. The screen insert of Claim 1 further comprising stabilizer fins on the peripheral frame.
3. The screen insert of Claim 1 or 2 further comprising a ledge on a forward side surface of the peripheral frame.
4. The screen insert of any one of Claims 1 to 3 further comprising mounting holes in the peripheral frame for mounting the peripheral frame on the bottom board.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2450305A CA2450305C (en) | 2003-11-20 | 2003-11-20 | Screen insert for beehive |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2450305A CA2450305C (en) | 2003-11-20 | 2003-11-20 | Screen insert for beehive |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2450305A1 CA2450305A1 (en) | 2005-05-20 |
| CA2450305C true CA2450305C (en) | 2011-01-11 |
Family
ID=34558390
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2450305A Expired - Fee Related CA2450305C (en) | 2003-11-20 | 2003-11-20 | Screen insert for beehive |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2450305C (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20100107472A1 (en) * | 2006-09-28 | 2010-05-06 | Kennedy Anthony Joseph | Insect Trap |
| AU2007329182A1 (en) * | 2006-12-05 | 2008-06-12 | Leslie William Heenan | Method and apparatus for controlling infestation of beehives |
-
2003
- 2003-11-20 CA CA2450305A patent/CA2450305C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2450305A1 (en) | 2005-05-20 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20201120 |