FR2705528A1 - Anti-varroa hive tray - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a hive tray allowing the Varroa jacobsoni, when they are detached from the bee, or otherwise when they fall, to carry on falling until they are outside the hive. It includes a frame formed by two sectional bars (2) serving as the sides of the tray, of a sectional bar serving as a rear crosspiece, of a sectional bar serving as a take-off board, bars (1) arranged under and in the direction of the combs and forming a grid with the said frame, threaded rods coated with grease (11), adjustable feet (12), small cups filled with fatty matter (15), hive body (8). The profile of the bars is such that funnel shapes (7) are created between their spacings with narrowed parts (5) which are sufficiently wide but do not let the bees pass through, these funnels being under the passageways or spaces existing under the combs (9) and thus recovering all sorts of particles, including the Varroa jacobsoni when they fall. The invention makes it possible to create ventilation at the bottom of the hive, allows automatic cleaning and combating of Varroa jacobsoni in a natural way.

Description

 The invention relates to a hive element and is called a removable bottom or tray when the latter is not fixed to the hive body and makes it possible to combat Varroa jacobsoni.

 The Varroa is a mite living on the bee and feeds on its hemolymph. To reproduce it lodges in the brood cells by parasitizing the larvae and this just before their sealing which protects them from chemical treatments and makes their destruction very difficult and delicate. Varroa since the 80s represents in Europe a plague for the breeding of bees.

It has been found that many swarms of bees living in places such as chimneys, tree trunks and the like and of which a large space existed under the rays, were little or not infested because Varroa often fell from bees and cannot in this case join them and be recycled. This is not the case in a classic hive, because the bees circulate on the tray where the
Varroa stray and these have no trouble gripping the bees again and thus be recycled.

 The device according to the invention overcomes this drawback. It in fact comprises a tray or bottom of a hive, the part of the inner floor of which is in the form of a grid, a bar under each spoke. The bars have a profiled section which can be beech or recall the triangle, the trapezoid, the square, the diamond, or the same flat circle so that positioned under the rays they form under the alleys or spaces between said rays a funnel with a narrowing of '' about 3mm, a space such that the bee cannot pass but leaves the passage to the fall of Varroa as well as to various debris of wax and others. This device also constitutes a ventilation system. By associating this plate with feet made up of threaded rods and blocks screwing onto these rods coated with grease, as well as fatty substances contained in bowls formed on the upper part of the blocks prevent any rise of Varroa on the plate.

 According to one embodiment, the bars are removable and have systems allowing it depending on the materials chosen.

 According to a variant, the bars have axes at their ends allowing their positioning and their rotation actuated at the rear of the hive using a screwdriver or a key in order to facilitate cleaning of the plate.

Figure 1 shows, in top view, the anti plate
Varroa.

 Figure 2 shows, in section, the lower part of a hive and said tray. The hive is only represented here with 4 frames to simplify.

 The device shown in FIG. 1 comprises a frame formed by two lateral sections (2), a section (4) serving as a rear cross member, a section (3) serving as a flight board.

Bars (1) are fixed between the rear crossmember (4) and the flight board (3) and are arranged under the frames. The space (7) forming a funnel is reduced in (5) so as not to allow the passage of the bees. The axes (13) and (14) used for the rotation of said bars is a variant drawn here in dotted lines. The slot (10) given by way of example makes it possible to act on the rotation of the bars. If the bars are profiled in a regular diamond shape, the small diagonals create the space (5), and the large diagonals close them after rotation.

 The device represented in FIG. 2 comprises the two lateral profiles (2), the bars (1) forming the spaces (7) in the form of a funnel narrowed at (5) under the alleys, the hive body (8), the spokes (9), the threaded rods (11) coated with grease to prevent any fallen Varroa from rising by the adjustable feet (12) with their bowls (15) filled with fatty substances.

 The device according to the invention can be produced from wooden, aluminum, PVC and other materials of this type and allows low ventilation in the hives, automatic cleaning and natural anti-Varroa control. In hives with fixed bottoms to fix the bars use a profile serving as a flight board and the rear panel of the hive body.

Claims (6)

 1) Bottom system of hives to allow the falls of Varroa jacobsoni to continue up to the outside of the hives characterized in that it comprises a frame formed by two profiles C2) serving as sides of the tray, of a profile (4) serving as a rear crossmember, a profile (3) serving as a flight board, bars (1) arranged under and in the direction of the spokes í forming a grid, which the profile of the bars chosen creates between their spacings funnel shapes (7) with a narrowed portion (5) sufficiently wide but not allowing the passage of bees.  2) System according to claim 1 characterized in that the bars (1) are removable and have systems allowing it according to the materials chosen.  3) System according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the bars have axes (13) and (14) to allow their rotation by acting on the end (10) outside the hive  4) System according to claims 1 and 3 characterized in that it comprises bars shaped diamond shape, flattened circle which after rotations create or close the spaces (5).  5) System according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4 characterized in that the tray comprises feet formed of threaded rods (11) coated with grease and blocks (12) serving as adjustable feet while having a bowl shape ( 15) on the upper part to receive the fatty substances.  6) System according to claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the bars (1) use to fix the rear panel of the hive body when the bottom is integral with it.