WO2007102035A2

WO2007102035A2 - Bee hive for controlling small hive beetle infestation and method for preventing swarming

Info

Publication number: WO2007102035A2
Application number: PCT/HU2007/000019
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lajos Kónya
Original assignee: Anivet Kft.
Priority date: 2006-03-08
Filing date: 2007-03-06
Publication date: 2007-09-13
Also published as: WO2007102035A3; HU0600190D0; HUP0600190A2

Abstract

Rotating brood-frame bee hive for controlling small hive beetle infestation of the hive. Under the brood chamber (4) a corridor (14) bordered by a lower wall (12) and an upper wall (13) is provided, the upper wall being the lower panel of the brood chamber (4) in which an opening (15) is formed. The lower wall (12) is provided with a gateway (30) for the larvae of the small hive beetle. A collecting tray (17) is arranged at least beneath the gateway (30). The corridor's lower wall (12) provided with the gateway (30) is illuminated from below. During the method the brood frames are rotated by 180° every 24 hours around a shaft which is parallel with the ground so that 45° rotation is effected every 6 hours or 90°rotation is effected every 12 hours, thereby swarming is prevented.

Description

BEE HIVE FOR CONTROLLING SMALL HIVE BEETLE INFESTATION AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING SWARMING

The invention relates to a hive particularly; a rotating brood-frame bee hive for collecting the larvae of the small hive beetle and for controlling small hive beetle 5 infestation of the hive. Around the sides of the frames a passageway for bees is provided and the brood chamber is separated from the honey chamber by a queen excluder at its upper portion. Under the brood chamber a corridor bordered by a lower wall and an upper wall is provided, the upper wall being the lower panel of the brood chamber in which an opening is formed. The invention also relates to a method for

10 operating a rotating brood-frame bee hive for preventing bees from swarming, in which method the brood frames are rotated around a shaft parallel with the ground by 180° every 24 hours.

The small hive beetle (Aetina tumida Murray,. Nititulidae) is native to South Africa. The name differentiates it from the larger hive beetle also found in South Africa,

15 Hyplostoma fuligineus. Both inhabit almost all colonies of honey bees (Apis sp.) in South Africa, but are generally not considered significant problems since hardiness of African bees is highly effective (e.g. against Apis cerana, Varroa destructor). The small hive beetle was discovered in Florida and identified by Dr. Michael Thomas of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Subsequent to this

20 identification, a pest alert on this insect was published. Prior to identification in Florida, the beetle merited only a paragraph in most books on honey bee pests and predators (Buys B. Durr, 1974). Since then the small hive beetle has spread over several states of the United States causing significant damage in bee-keeping. Subsequently the small

, . hive beetle has been found in Egypt, Australia, and according to an EU report it has also

25 been present in Europe (Portugal) since 7 October 2004. It proved to be resistant to the cold weather of North America which leads us to believe that it will probably spread all over Europe especially in warm and temperate regions.

The beetle may be found in any subtropical and tropical regions of Africa. It has become obvious that it may also inhabit and spread over more temperate areas. In June

30 1999 the hive beetle has been found in Georgia, North and South Carolina, Florida, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Although first described in Florida, it is thought it was originally introduced in the coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia, then transported in hives to Florida. Introduction into other states has mainly been through shipment of colonies and queen-bees.

Literature relating to the small hive beetle can be found e.g. in the following documents: Buys B. Durr H.J.R. (eds) 1974: A survey of honey bee pests in South Africa (First Congr. Entomol soc. South Africa)

Hood W.M.M. 2003: Trapping small hive beetles (Coleoptera: Nititulidae) inside colonies of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Am._. Bee J. 143. pp. 404-409. Lundie A.E. 1940: The small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) Union of South Africa Sci. Bull. Dept. Agric. Forestry. Neumann P. Hartel 2004: Removal of small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) eggs and larvae by African honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera scutellata), Apidologie 35. pp. 31- 36.

Rodriguez P.P. Harna CE. 2003: Food grade mineral oil-thymol widen alternatives for honey bee parasite control, Am. Bee J. 143.. pp. 727-730. Sanford M.T. 1999: The small hive beetle (aethina tumida), APIS Apicultural Information and Issues, Univ. Florida, Extension newsletter topies (http:www.ifas.ufl.edu/-mts/apishtm/-threads/smbeetle.htm)

Thomas M. A. 1999: A honey bee pest nέw to Florida and the Western hemisphere Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera; Nitidulidae). (http://doacs.state.- flus/~pi/aethinanew.htm).

Dr. Bekesi Laszlό: Meheszet (journal 2004/7 p.1316).

Kristόf Eva: Meheszet (journal 2005/8 p.8 and 2005/9 p.8).

The small hive beetle undergoes complete metamorphosis (holometamorphosis), passing through the egg, larva, pupa and adult stages. Most of the life cycle information comes from one comprehensive study by A.E. Lundie in 1940.

Eggs of the Aethina tumida are pearly white, 1,4 mm long by 26 mm wide, similar in appearance to honey bee eggs, but smaller, being approximately two-thirds the length of the latter. The females deposit the eggs in irregular masses. They prefer crevices or cavities. Comb is not required for laying eggs, females lay eggs anywhere within the hive. Incubation period varies from one to six' days. The number of eggs a female can lay has not been determined. Lundie has shown that two or three beetles in a pile of supers can cause a heavy infestation. Females are relatively long-lived (ranging from a few days to several months) which adds to their egg-laying capacity. The larva of the small hive beetle is the damaging stage of this. pest. Larvae emerge from the egg shell through a longitudinal slit. Newly-emerged larvae have relatively large heads and numerous protuberances all over their bodies. The larvae of the beetle may be confused with those of the greater wax moth (Galleria melonella), however, they can easily be distinguished by the presence of six prominent anterior legs. The growth rate of the same-aged larvae varies between 10-14 days, but may be longer. A full grown larvae is 7 mm long and 1.5 mm wide. Matured larvae leave the hive and entering the soil make a smooth-walled earthen cell to pupate. Period pupae spent in the soil varies from 15 to 60 days. The majority of beetles emerge after three to four weeks in the ground. The newly matured adult is light, yellowish brown and becomes brown, dark brown. Sometimes black adults may be seen emerging from the ground. During the first days young beetles are very active. They take flight readily and orient toward light. Later they become less active and keep to less illuminated portions of the hive. Females begin to lay eggs about a week after emergence. The size of the adults may vary. They can be 5-7 mm long and 2-3 mm wide. They are about one-third the size of a honey bee worker. Forty of sixty-eight individuals in Dr. Lundie's study lived over two months. Longevity and overlapping of generations make the beetle a constant source of annoyance to beekeepers.

The small hive beetle is not considered a major problem in South Africa. However, in the United States a large number of colony deaths have been registered. Certainly the beetle puts more stress on a colony and can be disastrous when its effects are multiplied by those of Varroa mites and other maladies. Some colonies have been reported to collapse after beekeepers have united them with other highly infested supers, a common strategy for controlling wax moth infestation. The major economic damage, however, appears to be done by larvae found in unprotected honey supers. Like that of the wax moth, the beetle larva is a scavenger. Although wax moth larvae eat comb enriched by honey bee pupae skins, beetle larvae eat brood and honey, they defecate in the honey promoting fermentation. Fermenting odour may be the first sign of a beetle infestation. Infestation of honey filled supers can happen very quickly. Frothy, fermented honey produced by the larvae is abandoned by the bees. Any intervention which diminishes the relative population of a colony affords a new chance for the larvae of the small hive beetle.

Honey bee colonies appear to withstand large populations of the small hive beetle, these however are capable of laying numerous eggs, which quickly develop into larvae creating havoc in the honey house and unprotected honey-filled supers. Scrupulous sanitation by extracting honey -without delay will often keep infestation at bay. Chemical control of beetles is problematic because effects of the chemicals are not known. There have been two ways to control: a) in the colony for adults b) soil treatment for developing pupae. In the United States to control adult individuals CheckMite strip (by Bayer) has been authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This compound contains coumphos organophosphate (10%) pesticide impregnated in a plastic strip. Before treatment the honey chamber must be removed. Treatment must be authorized by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by EPA. Extraction of honey is prohibited for 45 days after treatment. The number of strips that can be sold in Florida is 700,000. A product called GardStar (40 EC) has also been labelled for treating small hive beetle in the soil. It is an emulsifiable concentrate containing 40% permethrin. It can be used any time of the year and applied by low- pressure spray equipment. It is available in garden and pest control stores in the USA. Patent application US 2005/0095954 discloses a method for controlling pests, such as Varroa mite, tracheal mites and the small hive beetle in bee hives or other desired locations comprising extracting plant essential oils from the Diphysa robinoides and applying an effective amount of the extract as a vapour to a desired area of a bee hive. Most of the known methods use chemical treatment which is detrimental to both bees and honey. At the end of April, when rape is blooming, most bee colonies reach the peak of their development, and start reproduction and swarming, driven by their natural instincts. The whole colony will be overwhelmed with swarming fever, will start to build queen cells and stop foraging. This process is against the apiarist's interest as swarming may cause a severe drop in production. The main reason for the development of swarming fever is the dominant number of nurse bees, which leads to royal jelly overproduction. The main task of the colony with swarming instincts is not foraging but splitting, and so they concentrate on rearing swarm cells. Bees cluster by the exit hole in the daytime (festooning). This season should be used for methodical reproduction besides the traditional apiary treatment. Although rearing of bees among others precludes the colony's inclination for swarming, currently, the number of descendants of a brood queen in Hungary is about 45-50 thousand, which does not meet the requirements for yearly production (approximately 250 thousand/year). On various levels, all the bee keepers are concerned with rearing queens in their own apiculture in which swarming tendency of the colony may be an important factor. If queen replacement is not controlled in apiaries, and descendants with this swarming instincts are used for replacing the queen (yearly or every second year) this undesired tendency will exist continuously. Good foraging opportunities contribute to evolution of these instincts. The first sign of the swarming season is that the colony becomes overpopulated (the hive is full of breeding, matured bees and honey). The ratio of young bees is increased by the active wax-producing gland and the number of brood-cells is less. The number of queen cells on the frames is continually increased. The queen almost stops laying eggs, becomes lean and leaves the hive with a larger or smaller swarm. The colony with a reduced population will not only produce less, but the chance of successful mating of the young queen and thereby survival of the colony is also decreased (50%). Consequently, swarming is undesired in apiaries using hives.

HU 223065 an earlier patent application of the present inventor discloses a hive (known as "Kόnya" beehive) comprising at least a hatching area called nest, in which at least one frame provided with wax comb foundation suitable for laying eggs is positioned. The at least one frame is a rotatable frame which is installed in the nest perpendicular to the ground, and it is coupled to the hive by a rotating mechanism having a shaft perpendicular to the plane of the at least one rotatable frame i.e. parallel with the ground. The document also discloses a method for parasite control of bees and bee hives. In this method the frames which are positioned in the nest part of the hive are rotated by 180° in a direction perpendicular to their plane, around a shaft which is parallel with the ground, and said rotation is performed every 24-72 hours. The aim of the present invention is to provide a chemical-free method to control the presence of the small hive beetle in a bee hive without damaging the bee colony or the honey by utilizing the advantages of the rotating brood-frame bee hive.

It has been realized that when an illuminated opening is positioned at the lower portion of the rotating brood-frame bee hive then the larvae of the small hive beetle try to leave the hive through the opening for pupating in the soil, in this manner they can be collected in a suitable collecting vessel placed beneath the opening, consequently the aforementioned aim can be achieved by means of a so called light-trap of the present invention. Further, it has been realized that the light-trap can be used with any type of conventional hives. It has also been realized that when a suitable, not too wide corridor or passageway encircled by concentrically arched walls along its two sides is provided for bees around the brood frames in the hive, then the number of slits and corners where larvae may settle in can be decreased. Through experiments it has been realized that if 180° rotation of the frames is carried out in several steps within 24 hours during swarming period, swarming can be prevented.

The present invention on the one hand relates to a hive particularly a rotating brood- frame bee hive for collecting the larvae of the small hive beetle and for controlling small hive beetle infestation of the hive. Around the sides of the frames a passageway for bees is provided and the brood chamber is separated from the honey chamber by a queen excluder at its upper portion. Under the brood chamber a corridor bordered by a lower wall and an upper wall is provided, the upper wall being the lower panel of the brood chamber in which an opening is formed. Beneath the opening the lower wall of the corridor is provided with a gateway for the larvae of the small hive beetle. Under the lower wall a collecting tray is arranged at least beneath the gateway. The corridor's lower wall provided with the gateway is illuminated from below. In an advantageous embodiment the gateway beneath the opening is formed in the lower wall of the corridor and is provided with holes with a width greater than that of the larvae of the small hive beetle but smaller than the width of the bees, preferably at most 4 mm.

In another advantageous embodiment the gateway is a cut-out formed in the lower wall of the corridor and covered with a lid provided with holes with a width greater than that of the larvae of the small hive beetle but smaller than the width of the bees, preferably at most 4 mm.

Preferably, the lid is a plastic sieve with meshes larger than the width of the small hive beetle, but smaller than the width of the bees, advantageously the diameter of a mesh is at most 4 mm or the length of its sides is at most 4x4 mm. Preferably, the surface of the collecting tray facing the hive is coated with some sticky material.

In an advantageous embodiment the gateway is illuminated from below by means of artificial light source placed between the lower wall and the collecting tray or it is illuminated with natural light guided by means of one or more light-reflecting surfaces. Preferably, the collecting tray is formed from a transparent plastic material and the sticky material applied on its surface facing the hive is also transparent, and the gateway is illuminated from below by means of artificial light source placed beneath the collecting tray or it is illuminated with natural light guided by means of one or more light-reflecting surfaces. Advantageously, the collecting tray is placed on a tray holder having an openable ventilation door fixed to one of its sides, and the inner surface of the ventilation door is coated with some light-reflecting foil. " - ; .

In a preferred embodiment darkening barriers are placed in the corridor, the darkening barriers are arranged so that free movement of bees is not obstructed while entering of light from the side is prevented, and the inner surface of the corridor is painted black.

The present invention on the other hand relates to a method for operating a rotating . brood-frame bee hive for preventing bees .from swarming, in which method the brood frames are rotated around a shaft which is parallel with the ground by 180° every 24 hours so that the frames are turned by 45° every 6 hours or by 90° every 12 hours.

A detailed description of the hive and method according to the invention will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a known hive with side walls partially removed;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an improved hive according to the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lower-part of the hive of Figure 2 with closed entrance door, the sides of the brood chamber are partially removed;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the lower part of the hive of Figure 2 with open entrance door, the sides of the brood chamber are partially removed;

Figure^' 5 is the rear perspective view of the hive, of Figure 3 wherein the ventilation door is closed and light-reflecting surface is provided- Figure 6 is the rear perspective view of the hive of Figure 5 wherein the ventilation door is open and light-reflecting surface is provided;

Figure 7 is a sectional view showing a possible embodiment of the lower part of the - hive according to the invention wherein, the gateway is illuminated with natural light; Figure 8 is a sectional view showing another, possible embodiment of the lower part of the hive according to the invention wherein the gateway is illuminated with artificial light source;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 7 wherein the gateway is illuminated with artificial light source; Figure 10 is a sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 8 wherein the gateway is illuminated with natural light; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view of a conventional hive equipped with the light-trap of

Figure 7. The light-trap according to the invention for collecting the larvae of the small hive beetle can be used in any type of hives having either rectangular or round (rotatable) brood frames.

The rotating brood-frame bee hive 1 for collecting the larvae of the small hive beetle and for controlling small hive beetle infestation of the hive according to the invention is constructed as follows: a passageway 3 for bees is provided around the sides of the brood frames 2. The passageway 3 is formed between brood frames 2 and arched panels 28. The advantage of forming panels 28 as arched walls is that the number of corners and slits thereby the number of places where the small hive beetle can lay eggs are limited in hive 1. This solution is to be used in rotating brood-frame bee hives as it can be seen in embodiments of Figures 7-10. Naturally, arched panels 28 are not present in case of embodiment shown in Figure 11 considering that rectangular brood frames 2 are used here. The brood chamber 4 is separated from the honey chamber 6 by means of queen excluder 5 at its upper portion. Beneath the brood chamber 4 a corridor 14 bordered by a lower wall 12 and an upper wall 13 is formed, the upper wall 13 being the lower panel of the brood chamber 4. In the upper wall 13 an opening 15 is provided for the bees. Before pupation, the larvae of the small hive beetle also try to leave the brood chamber 4 through this opening 15. Considering that larvae of the small hive beetle before pupation try to leave the hive 1 towards the light, a route is marked out for them through which they can be collected and they can be prevented from pupating. To this end the inner wall of the corridor 14 is painted black and a gateway 30 for the larvae of the small hive beetle is provided in the .lower wall 12 preferably beneath the opening 15. Under the lower wall 12 a collecting tray 17 is arranged in a collecting area 11 formed at least beneath the gateway 30. The corridor's 14 lower wall 12 provided with the gateway 30 is illuminated from below. Capturing of larvae can be more effective if the surface of the collecting tray 17 facing the hive 1 is coated with some sticky material 20.

In order to prevent the bees from entering the collecting area 11, the gateway 30 is provided with holes with a width greater than that of the larvae of the small hive beetle but smaller than the width of the bees, preferably at most 4 mm. In an embodiment the gateway 30 is formed in the lower wall.12 by providing holes 18 in it with a diameter of at most 4 mm (Figures 8 and 10). In another embodiment the gateway 30 is formed as a cut-out 19 in the lower wall 12 of the 'corridor 14 which is then covered with a lid 16 provided with holes 18 larger than the larvae of the small hive beetle but smaller than the bees (Figures 7, 9 and 11). Holes 18 may be round holes with a diameter of at most 4 mm, or they may be rectangular with a side-length of at most 4x4 mm. For lid 16 some kind of sieve netting (with a suitable mesh size) made from a material bees can not bite through, e.g. steel or plastic, may be used. The gateway 30 of the lower wall 12 is illuminated from below by means of either artificial light sources 21 (Figures 8 and 9) or natural light 23 (Figures 7, 11 and 10). The artificial light source 21 may be an incandescent lamp selected on the basis of the voltage of the power supply (e.g. mains voltage 230 V, battery 12 V) or a light-emitting diode (LED). Natural light 23 can be guided to gateway 30 by means of a light- reflecting surface 22 and light-reflecting foil, 26 (Figure 10), or by means of light- reflecting surfaces 22 (Figures 7 and 11). In a preferred embodiment the light-reflecting surfaces are mirrors. Gateway 30 may be illuminated from the collecting area 11 (Figures 8 and 10). Alternatively, the collecting tray 17 may be formed from transparent plastic material and the sticky material 20 applied on its surface facing the hive 1 may be also transparent. Then the collecting tray 17 is illuminated from below. In the latter case the hive 1 is placed on hive supports 10, a tray holder 24 is fastened to the hive supports 10 and collecting tray 17 is placed oh the tray holder (Figures 7, 11 and 9). The rear wall of the collecting area 11 (opposite the entrance 7 of hive 1) is an openable ventilation door 25 the inner surface of which is also covered by light-reflecting foil 26. Ventilation door 25 on the one hand makes handling e.g. replacement and cleaning of the collecting tray 17 easier, on the other hand it ensures ventilation of hive 1 e.g. during migration. Preferably, in the embodiment of Figure 10 the inner walls of the collecting area 11 are also covered with light-reflecting foil 26 since in this solution only one light-reflecting surface 22 is used for guiding the natural light 23, while in the embodiments of Figures 7 and 11 two light-reflecting surfaces are utilized for guiding natural light 23 towards gateway 30. It is not necessary but advantageous if in either solution the inner walls of the areas beneath gateway 30 are covered with light- reflecting foil 26, in this manner gateway 30 can be illuminated with higher intensity. Relative brightness of gateway 30 may be increased if the inner surface of corridor 14 is painted black, and darkening barriers 27 are placed in the corridor 14. These darkening barriers 27 are arranged so that free movement of bees is not obstructed while entering of light from the direction of entrance 7 is prevented. To this end entrance door 8 is constructed so that in its open position it is fastened horizontally to a vertically positioned darkening barrier 27. This darkening barrier 27 can be bent down by means of a door hinge 9. Naturally, shading 29 must be arranged so that unhampered bending of entrance door 8 is ensured. When entrance door 8 is bent down, entrance 7 is covered up. An entrance reducer 32 may be provided in entrance door 8. Further, in order to decrease the amount of light entering the hiveV entrance door 8 may also be constructed differently, which can not be a problem for those skilled in the art.

With the light-trap 31 according to the invention reproduction of the small hive beetle can be prevented without using any chemicals. The objective of the light-trap 31 is to collect larvae of the small hive beetle on collecting tray 17, i.e. in the colourless, odourless sticky material 20 applied on the surface of collecting tray 17. Light-trap 31 operates as follows: larvae of the small hive beetle orientating towards light are driven into collecting tray 17 where they can be collected. Light enters into hive 1 through gateway 30 formed at the lower part of corridor 14. Gateway 30 may be illuminated with natural light 23 by means of light-reflecting surface(s) 23 preferably mirrors, and brightness of the inner space may be increased by means of light-reflecting foil 26. Gateway 30 may also be illuminated with artificial light source 21. In this manner the larvae of the small hive beetle will find their way out of the hive. As the larvae want to leave the hive towards the light, they get through the fairly illuminated gateway 30 and fall into collecting tray 17. If sticky material 20 has been applied on the surface of collecting tray 17, they can not manage to get out. Collecting tray 17 can be removed through ventilation door 25 and larvae can be cleared off at given intervals. If sticky material 20 is applied on collecting tray 17, then the tray may be simply washed out by using some environment-friendly solvent. Then the collecting tray 17 is again coated with the sticky material and placed back into the collecting area 11 through ventilation door 25. By means of the light-trap 31 according to the invention larvae are prevented from getting into the soil for pupation, i.e. reproduction of the small hive beetle is prevented. When darkening barriers 27 are arranged in corridor 14, collection of larvae may be more effective since light is prevented from entering hive 1. The essence of the labyrinth formed in corridor 14 is to completely block the light path while free movement of bees and ventilation of hive 1 is ensured. The darkened corridor does not disturb bees in navigation.

If the rotating brood-frame bee hive of HU 223065 ("Kόnya" beehive) is operated according to the method of the present invention, the bee colony can be prevented from swarming efficiently. Unlike to the earlier method where the brood frames were rotated by 180° once a day, in swarming season they are rotated at shorter intervals. If brood frames are rotated around a shaft by 90° every 12 hours or (in case of continuous bad weather forecast) by 45° every 6 hours, then swarming can be prevented. Due to this rotation the colony can only build the base of the queen cell. If colonies had already built the queen cell before rotating was started and the cell has by any chance developing larvae in it even in capped state, then bees will bite it off as a result of rotation. The irregularly positioned cells will be demolished and their contents (larvae, jelly) will be cleaned out.

Consequently, there is no possibility to raise a swarm cell, and the colony will not swarm. No best, gentlest method for prevention of swarming has been known until now. The advantage of the hive and method according to the invention as opposed to known hives is that in addition to making chemical-free protection of the hive against varroa mites possible, infestation of the small hive beetle can also be controlled, thereby the number of bee parasites can be decreased. The colonies will be healthier, reproduction is ensured, swarming is controlled. In this manner production of bio-honey becomes possible. Rotation of the frames does not disturb bees in foraging. By means of the light-trap the number of small hive beetles can be decreased and finally the hive will be free from pests. There is no need for using chemicals. Pure and chemical-free honey products are enabled. The invention can be implemented at low cost and simply as it does not require special knowledge.

Claims

1. Bee hive (1) particularly a rotating brood-frame bee hive for collecting the larvae of the small hive beetle and for controlling small hive beetle infestation of the hive (1) wherein a passageway (3) for bees is provided around the sides of the frames (2), the brood chamber (4) is separated from the honey chamber (6) by a queen excluder (5) at its upper portion, under said brood chamber (4) a corridor (14) bordered by a lower wall (12) and an upper wall (13) is provided, said upper wall (13) being the lower panel of said brood chamber (4) in which an opening (15) is formed characterized in that beneath said opening (15) said lower wall (12) of said corridor (14) is provided with a gateway (30) for the larvae of the small hive beetle, and under said lower wall (12) a collecting tray (17) is arranged at least beneath said gateway (30), and said corridor's (14) lower wall (12) provided with said gateway (30) is illuminated from below.

2. Bee hive according to claim 1 characterized in that said gateway (30) beneath said opening (15) is formed in the lower wall (12) of said corridor (14) and is provided with holes (18) with a width greater than that of the larvae of the small hive beetle but smaller than the width of the bees, preferably at most 4 mm.

3. Bee hive according to claim 1 characterized in that said gateway (30) is a cut-out formed in said lower wall (12) of said corridor (14) and covered with a lid (16) provided with holes (18) with a width greater than that of the larvae of the small hive beetle but smaller than the width of the bees, preferably at most 4 mm.

4. Bee hive according to claim 3 characterized in that said Hd (16) is a plastic sieve with meshes larger than the width of the small hive beetle, but smaller than the width of the bees, advantageously the diameter of a mesh is at most 4 mm or the length of its sides is at most 4x4 mm.

5. Bee hive according to any of claims 1-4 characterized in that the surface of said collecting tray facing the hive is coated with some sticky material (20).

6. Bee hive according to any of claims 1-5 characterized in that said gateway (30) is illuminated from below by means of artificial light source (21) placed between said lower wall (12) and said collecting tray (17).

7. Bee hive according to any of claims 1-6 characterized in that said collecting tray (17) is formed from a transparent plastic material and said sticky material (20) applied on its surface facing the hive (1) is also transparent.

8. Bee hive according to claim 7 characterized in that said gateway (30) is illuminated from below by means of artificial light source (21) placed beneath said collecting tray (17).

9. Bee hive according to claim 7 characterized in that said gateway (30) is illuminated from below with natural light (23) guided by means of one or more light-reflecting surfaces (22).

10. Bee hive according to any of claims 1-5 characterized in that said gateway (30) is illuminated from below with natural light (23) guided by means of one or more light- reflecting surfaces (22) placed between said lower wall (12) and said collecting tray (17).

11. Bee hive according to any of claims 1-10 characterized in that said collecting tray (17) is placed on a tray holder (24) having an openable ventilation door (25) fixed to one of its sides, and the inner surface of said ventilation door (25) is coated with light- reflecting foil (26).

12. Bee hive according to any of claims 1-11 characterized in that darkening barriers (27) are placed in said corridor (14), said darkening barriers (27) are arranged so that free movement of bees is not obstructed while entering of light from the side is prevented.

13. Bee hive according to any of claims 1-12 characterized in that the inner surface of said corridor (14) is painted black.

14. Method for operating a rotating brood-frame bee hive for preventing bees from swarming, during said method the brood frames are rotated by 180° every 24 hours around a shaft which is parallel with the ground characterized in that 45° rotation is effected every 6 hours or 90° rotation is effected every 12 hours.