Controlling bee diseases and pests.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention generally relates to controlling bee diseases and pests. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling bee diseases and pests in a beehive and an apparatus and method for feeding bees in a beehive.

BACKGROUND

Bees in beehives can be infected with pests such as parasites (e.g. the varroa mite), bacteria, viruses and/or diseases which can result in the loss of a large number of bees. In order to address this problem, there are a number of known methods to treat infected beehives. Firstly, there is vaporising, and this method involves using a vaporising rod to heat a liquid to vapour which fumigates the hive. The specialised rod needs a power source (either gas or electricity) and has been known to cause injury and damage, and in addition they are also very expensive. A second dosing technique is the use of invasive strips, pads, or patties (often using gel or grease as the medium). These methods soak the medium in either organic or synthetic chemicals and only last for a short duration. They also involve removing all the above boxes from the beehive each time the strip is to be changed/removed. Another known method is to fill a spray container with the chosen substance and ‘drip’ it into the hive. The beekeeper cannot control the distribution and dosage of the substance effectively using this method and therefore can easily over or underdose the hive. All of these methods require the opening or deconstructing of the beehive, which causes stress to the bee population, and this also applies to known ways of feeding bees within the beehive.

It is an object of a preferred form of the present invention to go at least some way towards addressing the above problem. While this is an object of a preferred embodiment, it should not be seen as a limitation on the scope of the invention as claimed. The object of the invention perse is simply to provide the public with a useful choice. All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein; this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or any other country.

The term “comprising” and derivatives thereof, e.g. “comprises”, if and when used herein in relation to a combination of features should not be taken as excluding the possibility that the combination may have further unspecified features. For example, a statement that an arrangement “comprises” certain parts does not mean that it cannot also, optionally, have additional parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for controlling bee diseases and/or pests comprising:

• a beehive with at least one aperture; and

• at least one removable bee treatment means adapted to be able to be inserted into and removed from the beehive via the at least one aperture and also being configured to control bee diseases and/or pests; the apparatus is adapted such that when in use, a user is able to insert the treatment means into the beehive via the at least one aperture and it results in bee diseases and/or pests being controlled without a user having to open the beehive, the apparatus is also adapted such that a user can remove the treatment means or part of the treatment means to measure the strength of the treatment means without having to open the beehive.

Preferably the at least one aperture is in the brood box of a hive.

More preferably the at least one aperture is in the lower half of the brood box. Preferably the removable treatment means is a removable elongated member in combination with a treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests.

Preferably the removable elongated member has slots and/or holes in it.

Preferably the removable elongated member is porous or absorbent.

Preferably the removable elongated member is made substantially from wood.

Preferably the removable elongated member has been soaked or saturated in the treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests.

Preferably the treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests comprises oxalic acid.

Preferably the treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests has been substantially encapsulated in an encapsulating means.

Preferably the encapsulating means comprises wax and a bee treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests.

Preferably the wax comprises paraffin, and the treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests comprises oxalic acid.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of controlling bee diseases and/or pests using the previously described apparatus comprising the step of: • inserting the at least one removable treatment means into the beehive via the at least one aperture, and this results in bee diseases and/or pests being controlled without a user having to open the beehive. Preferably the strength of the treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests is measured prior to the step of inserting the removable treatment means into the beehive.

Preferably there is a further step of removing the removable treatment means or part of it from the beehive and measuring the strength of the treatment chemical or substance.

Preferably the pest is a varroa mite.

In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a removable treatment means for controlling bee diseases and/or pests in a beehive comprising an absorbent or porous elongated member in combination with a treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests wherein in use a user is able to place the treatment means into a beehive or insert it into the beehive via an aperture and results in bee diseases and pests being controlled in the beehive.

Preferably the absorbent or porous elongated member has been saturated or soaked in the treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests.

Preferably the treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests comprises oxalic acid.

Preferably the treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests which is on the surface of and within the absorbent or porous elongated member has been encapsulated by an encapsulating means.

Preferably the encapsulating means comprises wax in combination with a treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests.

Preferably the wax comprises paraffin, and the treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests comprises oxalic acid. In a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of controlling bee diseases and/or pests in a beehive using the previously described removable treatment means comprising the step of either inserting the removable treatment means into a beehive via an aperture or opening in the front, back or side of the beehive or the step of placing the removable treatment means into the beehive if the beehive is open and this results in bee diseases and pests being controlled in the beehive.

In a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of producing a removable treatment means for use in controlling bee diseases and/or pests in a beehive comprising the steps of:

• soaking an absorbent or porous treatment member in a heated mixture of a treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests;

• removing the absorbent or porous treatment member to allow it to dry;

• placing the absorbent or porous treatment member into a heated encapsulating means in combination with a treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests; and

• removing the absorbent or porous treatment member from the heated encapsulating means in combination with the treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests which results in the encapsulating means hardening and encapsulating the absorbent or porous treatment member and the treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases and/or pests on and within it.

Preferably the heated mixture of a bee treatment chemical or substance comprises oxalic acid and water. Preferably the heated encapsulating means in combination with a bee treatment chemical or substance comprises paraffin and oxalic acid.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for feeding bees comprising:

• a beehive having at least one aperture; and · at least one feeding means (e.g. a food or liquid in combination with a rod, tube or stick etc.) which is adapted to be able to be inserted into and removed from the beehive via the aperture; the apparatus is adapted such that when in use, a user is able to insert the feeding means into the beehive via the at least one aperture, and the feeding means provides food and/or liquids to the bees without a user having to open the beehive.

Preferably the at least one aperture is in the brood box of a hive.

More preferably the at least one aperture is in the lower half of a brood box of a hive.

Preferably the feeding means is an elongated food receiving member in combination with bee food or liquid.

Preferably the bee food receiving member has slots in it to receive food.

Preferably the bee food receiving member is made substantially from wood.

Preferably the apparatus has a means (e.g. a cap rod) to close the apertures or apertures in the beehive when the feeding means have been removed.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of feeding bees in using the previously described bee feeding apparatus comprising the step of:

• inserting the feeding means into the beehive via the apertures, and the feeding means feeds the bees without the user having to open the beehive.

Preferably wherein after the bee feeding means has been inserted into the hive, the bee feeding means can be removed at any time to see if the bee food or liquid needs to be replenished.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the entirety of this disclosure, which includes the accompanying drawings and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective inside view of an open brood box of a beehive having apertures for receiving bee treatment and feeding sticks;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the brood box shown in figure 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a bee treatment stick;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the bee treatment stick shown in figure 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a bee treatment stick; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bee treatment stick being sterilised in an oven;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the brood box of a beehive with bee treatment sticks having been inserted into it via apertures in the front of the brood box;

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the brood box with three bee treatment sticks having been inserted into it via apertures in the front of the brood box; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of alternative embodiments of three bee treatment sticks in a bucket containing chemicals for controlling bee diseases or pests;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a user measuring the strength of chemicals on bee treatment sticks;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a user testing the strength of a bee treatment stick which has previously been inserted into a brood box of a beehive to treat the hive;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a treated and untreated bee stick;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an urn which contains a heated mixture of water and oxalic acid; FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an urn which contains a heated slurry of paraffin and oxalic acid;

FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of a user preparing a heated slurry of paraffin and oxalic acid;

FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of a bee treatment stick being dunked into a heated slurry containing paraffin and oxalic acid;

FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of three bee treatment sticks containing oxalic acid and paraffin when in use with a beehive;

FIG. 18 is a top perspective view of two bee treatment sticks containing oxalic acid and paraffin when in use with an open beehive; FIG. 19 is a perspective view of two bee feeding sticks; and

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of three bee treatment sticks and three bee feeding sticks being used in a beehive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for controlling bee diseases and pests. References to bee pests in the specification relates to any mites, bugs, bacteria and viruses which harm or kill bees or affect honey production. References to controlling bee diseases and pests in the specification relates to prevention, suppression and/or eradication of the pest or disease. The invention also relates to apparatus and methods for feeding bees.

Figures 1 and 2 show an open brood box 1 from a beehive. As can be seen, the box 1 has a number of apertures 2 for receiving bee treatment or feeding means. In some embodiments, the box 1 has caps/bungs to close/cover these apertures 2 when there is no treatment or feeding means inserted into the box 1. The apertures 2 are most preferably in the front lower half of the brood box, however, they are not limited to this and may be anywhere on the beehive. The number, size, shape and location of the apertures 2 may vary.

Illustrated in figures 3 and 4 is a removable bee treatment means, and in the embodiment shown, this is an elongated stick 3, which when in use, is combined with any suitable treatment chemical or substance which controls bee diseases or pests and is inserted by a user into the brood box 1 of a beehive shown in figures 1 and 2 via an aperture 2. The treatment stick 3, which is most preferably made from untreated organic pine, may have one flared end 4 (however is not essential) this is so that it can fit tightly in the apertures 2 of the box 1 when fully inserted. The preferred dimensions of the stick 3 are approximately 530 mm in length, and approximately 480 mm of the stick is approximately 3 mm thick and 20-25 mm wide. However, they are not limited to these sizes. Although the stick 3 is timber in the preferred form of the invention, it will be appreciated that the sticks3 can be made from other materials such as dense foam, plastic, sponge, polystyrene, lattice-like materials, woven cord-like materials, paper or paper-like products, or any other porous or absorbent material that releases the treatment chemical or substance applied to it into the hive slowly or encourages bees to rub against it. The removable treatment stick 3 may also be made from plastic, materials with ‘memory’ (PE/PU plastics), or any suitable rigid material. It will also be appreciated that the sticks 3 can come in different shapes and sizes, e.g. rod shaped etc. However, it is most preferably an elongated absorbent or porous stick made substantially from wood. The removable treatment stick 3 has a chemical or substance which controls bee diseases or pests applied to it before use in a beehive. In some embodiments, the sticks 3 may contain holes from which the bee treatment chemical or substance can drip out from.

Figure 5 shows an alternative removable bee treatment stick 3a. As can be seen, the stick 3a has two apertures 5 for hanging it (e.g. to aid whilst being soaked in a bee treatment chemical or substance or when being sterilised etc.). Most of the stick 3a shown has been soaked in a bee treatment chemical 6 such as oxalic acid in combination with glycerine or with other known suitable chemicals which are used in beekeeping, which can kill or eradicate pests such as the varroa mite. Instead of soaking the sticks 3a in the bee treatment chemical or substance in some embodiments, the chemicals may be added to the sticks 3a by a different method, e.g. with a gel, sprayed on, adding during the manufacturing process of the sticks 3a etc.

If the stick 3a is going to be used in multiple hives, then it should be sterilised after each use, and one way this can be achieved is by placing it in an oven 7 like that shown in figure 6 at approximately 200 degrees Celsius for about 15 minutes as this kills AFB (American foulbrood) spores and the like, and an infrared thermometer 8 may be used to check the temperature. It will be appreciated that other suitable ways of sterilising the sticks 3a may be used, such as irradiation, boiling in lye solution, flame scorching, etc.

Figures 7 and 8 show three bee treatment sticks 3a when in use, having been inserted in the brood box via the apertures 2.

Shown in figure 9 are three alternative embodiments of bee treatment sticks 3b, 3c, 3d. The bee treatment stick can be solid like stick 3b, contain holes 9 like stick 3c or slots 10 like stick 3d. In some embodiments, a treatment stick may have a combination of holes 9 and slots 10. The purpose of the holes 9 and slots 10 is that the bees stick to these and the treatment chemicals or substance they contain when they are inserted into a hive. This figure also illustrates a user 11 soaking the sticks 3b, 3c, 3d in a bucket 12 full of oxalic acid mixed with glycerine which is a bee treatment chemical or substance. It will be appreciated that other bee treatment chemicals may be used in the bucket 12 and other means instead of a bucket to soak the sticks may be used.

With reference to figure 10, once the removable sticks 3b, 3c, 3d, have been soaked in a bee treatment chemical or substance in the bucket 12, they are tested by a user 11 with litmus paper 13 to get a reading to ensure they have been sufficiently soaked and the bee treatment chemicals or substance is absorbed such that each stick 3b, 3c, 3d contain enough of the treatment chemical or substance. Once the sticks 3b, 3c, 3d, have been tested and confirmed that they have sufficient amounts of bee treatment chemicals or substances on or in them, they are then inserted into a beehive via the apertures 2.

Figure 11 shows three bee treatment sticks 3a in use with a beehive wherein they have been inserted into the brood box 1 via the apertures 2 to treat the hive. Because the sticks 3a (and sticks 3, 3b, 3c and 3d) can easily be removed, often a user 11 is able to work out how strong or weak the treatments need to be (e.g. through weekly tests, etc.). This enables a user 11 to minimise the amount of treatment administered, and this will minimise any adverse effects the treatments may have on the bees. The treatment strength can be tested by removing the stick 3a or sticks and using a litmus test 13, like shown in figure 11 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other known ways of measuring the strength of the bee treatment chemicals or substances in the sticks 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d may be used instead.

Illustrated in figure 12 is two of the most preferred embodiments of bee treatment sticks 3e, 3f. One stick 3f has not had any bee treatment chemicals or substances (e.g. oxalic acid and paraffin) 14 applied to it and the other stick 3f has had bee treatment chemicals and substances 14 applied to it. The sticks 3e, 3f are most preferably made from an absorbent or porous material such as wood.

The method of adding the bee treatment chemicals or substances 14 to the treatment stick 3e involves the following steps. Firstly, the untreated treatment stick 3e is dipped or soaked in a heated (preferably around 55 degrees Celsius) mixture of water and oxalic acid (approximately 50% water and 50% oxalic acid) and is then left to dry by either removing it from the mixture or allowing the mixture of oxalic acid and water to cool with the stick 3e inside it and this results in oxalic acid crystal formation on the surface and within the stick 3e. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the sticks 3e are soaked in the solution for about 30 minutes, and then removed from the solution, and then dried, which can take around 2-3 days. During the drying stage, oxalic crystals form on the stick 3e, and the oxalic acid is absorbed by the stick 3e, and the crystals also form within it. Figure 13 shows a thermostatically controlled urn 15, which contains the solution of water and oxalic acid which is used for this step, and it has two stainless vessels that sit into the urn, which is full of water, and the vessels sit inside the urn 15 in the water so operating like a double boiler.

The next step in the method of adding bee treatment chemicals or substances to the stick 3e involves the use of a heated slurry (approximately 58-59 degrees Celsius) of paraffin and oxalic acid (approximately 50% paraffin and 50% oxalic acid) it. Figure 14 shows a thermostatically controlled urn 16, similar to the one in figure 13, which contains a slurry of paraffin and oxalic acid 17 shown in figure 15 being mixed with the use of a drill 18, and with the temperature being recorded with an infrared thermometer 8 to ensure it is the desired temperature. It will be appreciated that other ways of making the slurry 17 may be used. Figure 16 shows a dried stick 3e containing oxalic acid crystals being dunked into the heated slurry 17 which substantially encapsulates/covers the stick 3e or parts of the stick 3e which it is dunked into. Once the stick 3e is removed from the slurry 17, it takes around 5 minutes for the slurry 17 on the stick 3e to harden/set over the stick 3e and the oxalic acid crystals on and within the stick 3e. The purpose of the oxalic acid being combined with the paraffin and the stick 3f having absorbed oxalic acid within it is to make it difficult for bees to remove the substances giving the stick 3f an extended treatment cycle compared to the previously described treatment sticks 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d in the description. The stick 3e is around 1 .5 mm thick before being dipped into the water and oxalic acid mixture and once the stick 3f has been coated in the slurry 17 is around 3-5 mm thick. The sticks 3e, 3f shown are around 200 mm long and 20 mm wide, however, it will be appreciated that the dimensions of the sticks 3e, 3f are not limited to this and can vary depending on what a user is trying to achieve and where on the beehive the treatment sticks 3e, 3f are being used, but most preferably the width of them is between about 20 mm to 35 mm and the length is between about 200 mm to 450 mm and the thickness between about 3 mm to 5 mm. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concentrations of the water and the oxalic acid in the mixture may vary, and in some embodiments, the mixture may also contain additional and/or different chemicals or substances which are known to kill or control bee pests or diseases. It will also be appreciated that the concentration of the paraffin and the oxalic acid in the slurry 17 may vary, and the slurry 17 may have additional parts such as wood/dust added to it. In some embodiments, the slurry may contain additional different encapsulating means (e.g. different waxes or other suitable substances) and/or additional and/or different chemicals or substances which are known to kill or control bee pests or diseases. Instead of urns 15, 16 other suitable apparatus which can store heated liquids may be used.

Figure 17 shows three treatment sticks 3f having been inserted into the front of a beehive via three apertures, and this is done without opening the hive, and this is the most preferred way to use the bee sticks 3f. Figure 18 shows two bee treatment sticks 3f, which have been joined together by connecting means 19 and are being used with a beehive which has had the top of it removed. While the most preferred embodiment of the invention is not to open the hive to use the sticks 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, in some instances when there is warm weather, like in summer, beekeepers need to remove the top of the beehive for reasons other than to apply treatments. For example, to inspect the brood for diseases or the health of the queen and when this is being done the beekeeper could place the sticks 3f like shown in this figure in at the same time and then put the top of the beehive back on as the sticks 3f do not have any ill effect on the hive, the queen, or the bees. Flowever, in winter or severe climates where snowing or cold weather for many months or an environment where beekeepers cannot or do not need to go into the hive, administering through the front of the hive like shown in figure 17 is the only option. The sticks 3f are most preferably inserted into the front of a brood box 1 of a beehive via apertures 2 however it will be appreciated that they can be inserted into other locations on the beehive via apertures.

The apertures in the brood box 1 can also receive feeding stick 20 like the ones shown in figure 19. As can be seen, the sticks 20 have slots 21 for receiving bee food such as a protein mixture or the like. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the feeding sticks 20 can come in different shapes and sizes, and the food can be added in different ways. In use the feeding sticks 20 have bee food added to them and then are inserted into the brood box 1 via the apertures 2. The sticks 20 can easily be removed to see if the food needs to be replaced. The sticks 20 are preferably made from wood however may be made from plastic, materials with ‘memory’ (PE/PU plastics), or any suitable rigid material. It will also be appreciated that the sticks 13 can come in different shapes and sizes, e.g. rod-shaped, etc. In some embodiments, the sticks may contain holes which drip bee food or liquid.

Figure 20 shows a beehive with treatment sticks 3b, 3c, 3d inserted into the brood box 1 via apertures 2 and three feeding sticks 13 inserted into the top of the hive via apertures. It will be appreciated, however, that in the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the feeding sticks 13 preferably go into the brood box 1 via the apertures 2.

The treatment 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3f, and feeding sticks can be made by hand or machined, or any other suitable way and apertures 2 in the beehive can be drilled; however, they can be produced by other means (i.e. during production of the beehive).

The previously described invention allows a beekeeper to dose a beehive with different products without opening the hive or endangering the queen. Currently, beehives can only be dosed with smoke based products when they are closed up or with invasive ‘strip’ products that are pre-dosed and wear off over time. It will allow beekeepers to continually dose the hive throughout the production cycle without invasive methods or equipment that involves power supplies such as batteries, extension cords and gas bottles (as required for the vaporising /smoke based method). It will also aid in the destruction of hive based pests such as the varroa mite as it will allow for effective, continuous dosing of whatever product the beekeeper chooses. The methods and apparatus have a number of advantages over the prior art methods of controlling the varroa mite. The main two synthetic products on the market are quickly becoming redundant as the varroa mite becomes resistant to them, and as a result of this, the interest in organic based products is growing. These centre around the use of sugar syrup mixed with pure, food grade essential oils and dripping the product into the hive. However, the drip method has its own problems. Carrying it out in the current way, using a syringe or spray bottle does not evenly distribute the substance through the hive, leading to over and underdosing. The need to fully dismantle the hive in order to get to the brood box is also problematic as the more you disrupt the bees, the more stress you put them under, thus affecting their health and honey production. Furthermore, the invention provides a means of feeding over the wintering period without the need for opening the hive. The overall purpose of the previously described treatment sticks is to increase hive treatments through non-invasive methods that allow a treatment stick to be inserted into the hive from the front or back side while the hive is closed, therefore lowering the infestation rates of pests such as the varroa mite and reducing the stress bee populations are exposed to when invasive methods are used. It is also a way to ensure adequate, equal dosing of hives so that over and underdosing does not occur, lessening the dangers associated with these mishaps and disbursing the substances introduced to the hive at a controlled dosage. The substances introduced could be in the form of liquid, gel, crystals, jelly, grease, smoke, or vapour as all are used for the control of diseases, mites, bugs, bacteria and viruses. As well as a means of dosing the brood box section of a beehive, the apparatus can also be used as a means of feeding the hive without opening the brood box. This is especially helpful during the wintering season when temperature and weather conditions make opening the hive undesirable for bee health, and during honey production, when opening the hive could lead to hive death. Furthermore, the apparatus is much cheaper than known apparatus for feeding and treating beehives. It will be appreciated that the treatment sticks 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3f, 3e can be used for prevention, suppression and/or eradication of bee pests and diseases in beehives.

It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and functioning of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail so long as the functioning of the invention is not adversely affected. For example, the particular elements of the beehive and the treatment/feeding sticks may vary dependent on the particular application for which it is used without variation in the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, although the preferred embodiments described herein are directed to an apparatus for killing or controlling diseases and or pests and feeding bees in a hive, a removable treatment means for killing or controlling diseases and/pests and feeding bees in a hive, a method of controlling diseases and/pests and feeding bees in a hive, a method of producing a removable treatment means for killing or controlling diseases and/or pests, and/or a method of feeding bees in a hive, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications can be made within the scope of the appended claims.