Patent Publication Number: US-2023132882-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for honey bee mite removal

Description:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a method and apparatus for honey bee mite removal, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus adapted to expose honey bees to a protective formulation for dislodging mites from honey bees and protecting honey bee colonies. 
     BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Honey bees can generally be described as flying insects that form colonial nests for shelter and for the storage of honey. A honey bee colony generally comprises a single fertile queen bee, a few thousand fertile male drone bees, and tens of thousands of sterile female worker bees. Honey bees have proven to be very beneficial, as they are the only natural source of beeswax and honey, and perhaps most importantly, they pollinate fruits and vegetables that are vital to the human food supply. As such, honey bees have been domesticated all over the world, with the Apis mellifera species representing the primary species maintained by beekeepers. 
     Honey bees are prone to invasion in the form of mites, which can be divided into three groups: parasites, phoretic mites, and house guests. The most dangerous parasitic mites include Varroa jacobsoni, Acarapis woodi, and Tropilaelaps clareae, which can cause serious disease in honey bees and honey bee colonies. Phoretic mites are generally less harmful, as they prefer flowers and use honey bees for transport from one plant to another and only arrive accidentally in a beehive. Among the many house guests are species that feed on old provisions and a few species that feed on other mites. Mites rarely feed on stored pollen in active hives, although large numbers of pollen-feeding mites are often found in stored honeycombs. 
     Perhaps the most threatening of all mites is the varroa mite, which pose the greatest threat to honey bee populations worldwide. Varroa mites attack both the bee and their brood, threatening to wipe out entire colonies and disrupt the food chain on a global scale. In the past few decades, varroa mites, which are traditionally native to specific continents, have begun to spread around the world and pose a threat to the worldwide honey bee population. Beekeepers are alert to the dangers these mites pose; however, given the rate at which people move around earth and the laxity of customs officials in most countries, these mites are as ubiquitous as their hosts. 
     To combat varroa mites, beekeepers will employ pesticides and other invasive and toxic formulations. While these methods can be effective in the short-term at curbing the spread of varroa mites, they are also very destructive to honey bees and their environment. Furthermore, varroa mites have shown a startling ability to develop rapid resistance to synthetic pesticides. Therefore, a need exists for a non-invasive, non-toxic, low-resistance method and apparatus for effectively removing mites from honey bees. The present invention accomplishes these needs. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a non-invasive method and apparatus for effectively removing mites from honey bees, thereby preventing them from infecting their colonies. This is accomplished through a chamber having a one-way entry gate and an exit gate. A fondant positioned within the chamber entices the honey bees to enter through the one-way entry gate, while a dusting assembly is positioned adjacent to the exit gate and is configured to distribute a dusting powder on the honey bees as they exit. The dusting powder will act as a deterrent, causing the bees to groom themselves, thus detaching the mites from the bees during the grooming process. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of this invention may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings that are used to illustrate the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a top perspective view of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a top perspective view thereof with access door open, showing the internal components of the chamber; 
         FIG.  3    is a bottom perspective view of the present invention showing the mesh floor; 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded perspective view of the dusting assembly and electronics puck; 
         FIG.  5    is a side view of the dusting assembly and electronics puck; 
         FIG.  6    is a top view thereof; 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional view of the dusting assembly and electronics puck; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of the dusting assembly and electronics puck; 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of the dusting assembly and electronics puck showing the vibration motor and mesh disc; 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of the dusting assembly and electronics puck; and 
         FIG.  11    is an illustration of the mobile application and wireless connectivity. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention are described herein in the context of a honey bee mite removal device. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following detailed description of the present invention is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     The present invention  10  is directed to an apparatus for effectively removing mites from honey bees. This is accomplished through a chamber  20  having a one-way entry gate  21  and an exit gate  22 , with an electronics puck  30  positioned between them. Fondant  40  is used to entice the honey bees to enter through the one-way entry gate  21 , while a dusting assembly  50  is positioned adjacent to the exit gate  22  and is configured to distribute a dusting powder  60  to the honey bees. The dusting powder  60   will act as a deterrent, encouraging the bees to groom themselves and thus causing mites to become dislodged during the grooming process. 
     The chamber  20  comprises an enclosed area with one entry and one exit  21 ,  22  defined by a proximal side and a distal side, respectively. The chamber  20  is formed from a baseboard assembly, a roof assembly, a one-way entry gate  21  on the proximal side, and an exit gate  22  on the distal side. The baseboard assembly and roof assembly each comprise a plurality of panels fixedly attached to one another and are adapted to connect to form the top and bottom of the chamber  20 . The entry and exit gates  21 ,  22  are of critical importance to the operation of the device  10  and must never be obstructed or the honey bees will not enter the device  10 . Furthermore, the chamber  20  must be adequately ventilated, as honey bees avoid moisture and unfavorable temperatures. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the baseboard and roof assembly comprise three panels of equal width, each having a 120-degree angle between them. As such, when the baseboard assembly and roof assembly are combined, the chamber  20  has a generally hexagonal shape, where all six sides are congruent. In a preferred embodiment, the panels are formed from a light and durable wood, such as cedar or cypress. In an alternative embodiment, the roof assembly further comprises eaves on the outermost panels, wherein the outermost panels of the roof assembly will hang over the outermost panels of the baseboard assembly when combined. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the roof assembly further comprises an access door  24  configured to provide access to the chamber  20  for maintenance. The access door  24  further comprises a hinge  25 , wherein the access door  24  is rotatably attached to the roof assembly by said hinge  25 . When opened, access to the chamber  20  is provided, and when closed, the chamber  20  is sealed with only one entry and exit means  21 ,  22 . Here, the chamber  20  can be easily opened and serviced with minimal disruption to the bees. The access door  24  further comprises a pair of magnets  27  configured to magnetically attach to a pair of opposing magnets  28  positioned on the chamber  20 , where the magnets  27 ,  28  will keep the access door  24  in a closed position. 
     The baseboard assembly further comprises a mesh floor  23  comprising a plurality of apertures. The mesh floor  23  is configured to allow mites and excess dusting powder  60  to fall from the device  10  as the honey bees groom themselves. More specifically, the mesh floor  23  prevents mites from reattaching to the honey bees and further prevents powder build-up in the device  10 . Here, the size of the apertures of the mesh floor  23  are configured to permit mites and powder to exit, but are too small to permit bees to enter and exit the device  10 . In a preferred embodiment, the size of the apertures of the mesh floor  23  range between 100-500 microns. 
     The one-way entry gate  21  is a panel positioned at the proximal side of the device  10  and provides a means for entry into the chamber  20 . More specifically, the entry gate  21  is large enough to permit honey bees to enter, but small enough to prevent larger insects from entering. Furthermore, the one-way entry gate  21  is configured to only permit ingress into the device  10 . This is accomplished through one or a plurality of conically-shaped apertures at its center, wherein the base of the cone is positioned at the outside of the chamber  20  and the apex of the cone is positioned inside the chamber  20 . The conical shape of the aperture will encourage honey bees to enter the chamber  20  by funneling them inward. The entry gate  21  is formed of a durable plastic material selected for longevity and resistance to environmental deterioration and repellant to harmful microorganisms. In a preferred embodiment, the entry gate  21  further comprises ultraviolet paint  26  surrounding the conically-shaped aperture at its center, where the ultraviolet paint  26  has a shape or pattern (ex. Bullseye) that entices honey bees into the entry gate  21 . 
     The exit gate  22  is a panel positioned at the distal side of the device  10  opposite the one-way entry gate  21  and provides a means for exit out of the chamber  20  through an exit aperture. The exit gate  22  is positioned adjacent to the dusting assembly  50 , with the exit aperture positioned such that honey bees are encouraged to exit after dusting and grooming. In the preferred embodiment, the exit gate  22  is positioned at the base of the panel, adjacent to the mesh floor  23 . The exit gate  22  is formed of a durable plastic material selected for longevity and resistance to environmental deterioration and repellant to harmful microorganisms. 
     The fondant  40  is positioned within the chamber near the entry gate  21  and is configured to entice honey bees toward the entry gate  21  and into the device  10 . The fondant  40  comprises a mixture of essential oils, glycerin, sugar, and water and has a generally solid consistency. In an alternative embodiment, the fondant  40  further comprises corn syrup. In yet a further alternative embodiment, the fondant  40  further comprises peppermint and lemongrass. While the fondant  40  primarily functions as a reward for entering the device  10 , it further operates as a food source for honey bees. Once the honey bees learn of the food source in the device  10 , they will return to their hive and signal to the other foraging honey bees of the location of the food source, thereby attracting more bees. 
     The electronics puck  30  is positioned adjacent to the fondant  40  and dusting assembly  50  and operates as a barrier between the entry and exit gates  21 ,  22 , functionally dividing the chamber  20  into two sections. Here, the first section is functionally limited to feeding via the fondant  40  while the second section is functionally limited to grooming. The electronics puck  30  comprises a conically-shaped apertures at its bottom, wherein the base of the cone is positioned toward the entry gate  21  and the apex of the cone is positioned toward the exit gate  22 . The conical shape of the aperture will encourage honey bees to exit the first section by funneling them toward the second section. 
     The electronics puck  30  comprises an electronic circuit  58  for controlling the device  10 . The electronics puck  30  further comprises a plurality of sensors  55  configured to detect one or a plurality of bees as they pass from the chamber  20  and through said electronics puck  30 . In the preferred embodiment, sensors  55  include: visual sensors, infrared sensors, auditory sensors, pressure sensors, or any other sensors  55  configured to detect the presence and quantity of bees within the chamber  20 . More specifically, these sensors  55  will monitor and record bee and device activity, fondant usage, dusting powder usage, and other information relating to the operation and maintenance of the present invention. Furthermore, these sensors  55  are configured to activate the vibration motor  52  if certain criteria are met, such as if one or a plurality of honey bee pass are detected within the electronics puck  30  or dusting assembly  50 . In the preferred embodiment, the electronics puck  30  is in electrical communication with a plurality of solar panels  56  and battery  57  for powering the electronic circuit  58  and vibration motor  52 . 
     The electronics puck  30  comprises a means of wireless communication (WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.) for communicating with an external mobile application (App)  70 . Specifically, the electronics puck  30  wirelessly communicates data  71  with the App  70 , exchanging data comprising usage data, range of protection, quantity of dusting powder, fondant replacement warnings, dusting powder refill warnings, and refill recommendations such that mites do not become resistant to the dusting powder  60 . For example, fondant  40  is ideally replaced every 30 days, and as such, the present invention will monitor the fondant usage levels and notify the user when the fondant  40  must be replaced, but will always suggest replacement after 30 days have passed. Firmware updates are available for the electronics puck  30  through over-the-air updates or by wirelessly connecting to the mobile application  70 . 
     The dusting assembly  50  is positioned adjacent to the electronics puck  30  and exit gate  22 , and is in electrical communication with the electronics puck  30 . The dusting assembly  50  comprises a hopper  51 , a filter  54 , a vibration motor  52 , and a hopper saddle  53  configured to apply dusting powder  60  to the honey bees. When activated, the vibration motor  52  will dispense a dose of dusting powder  60  to the bees located within the dusting assembly  50 . 
     The hopper  51  is configured to retain the dusting powder  60  and has a generally funnel-shape. More specifically, the shape of the hopper  51  is configured to store and promote the delivery of dusting powder  60  through gravitational forces. The hopper  51  can be refilled by pouring dusting powder  60  directly into the hopper  51  and further comprises a lid configured to seal the hopper  51 , protecting the dusting powder  60  from outside particulate or other unwanted materials. 
     The filter  54  is positioned adjacent to the hopper  51  and is configured to receive dusting powder  60  from the hopper  51  and provide an even distribution of dusting powder  60  onto the honey bees. Furthermore, the filter  54  will prevent clumping of the dusting powder  60 . In the preferred embodiment, the filter  54  is in the form of a mesh disc (see  FIG.  9   ). In an alternative embodiment, the filter  54  is a grate. In a further alternative embodiment, the filter  54  is omitted, and the hopper  51  dispenses dusting powder  60  directly. 
     The vibration motor  52  is in material communication with the hopper  51  and is configured to agitate the hopper  51 , encouraging the dispensation of dusting powder  60 . More specifically, when the vibration motor  52  is activated by the electronics puck  30 , it will agitate the hopper  51 , causing the dusting powder  60  to fall from the hopper  51 , through the filter  54 , and onto the bees. The vibration motor  52  duration and intensity can be adjusted through a mobile application  70  to increase or decrease the amount of dusting powder  60  released from the dusting assembly  50 , with longer duration and higher intensity increasing the amount of dusting powder  60  released, and shorter duration and lower intensity decreasing the amount of dusting powder  60  released. In the preferred embodiment, the dusting assembly  50  will dispense between 1-10 milligrams of dusting powder  60 . In a further exemplary embodiment, the dusting assembly  50  will dispense between 3-5 milligrams of dusting powder  60 . The vibration motor  52  is isolated from the rest of the device  10  through the hopper saddle  53  to reduce noise and vibration. Dampening foam, rubber, or other materials can be used to further isolate this vibration and noise from the device  10 . 
     The hopper saddle  53  is configured to retain the hopper  51 , vibration motor  52 , and filter  54 , while providing a grooming area for the honey bees to naturally groom themselves after dusting powder  60  is dispensed. The hopper saddle  53  has a generally upside-down ‘U’ shape, with the hopper  51 , vibration motor  52 , and filter  54  retained in the air while the honey bees groom themselves underneath (See  FIG.  9   ). The hopper saddle  53  is aligned with the aperture of the electronics puck  30  to receive honey bees as they enter the second section of the chamber  20 . The hopper saddle  53  is formed of a durable material selected for longevity and resistance to environmental deterioration and repellant to harmful microorganisms. 
     The dusting powder  60  is a powder mixture comprising cinnamon, lemongrass, rosemary, or wax of varying percentages, with the essential oils capable of repelling mites from the honey bees. The dusting powder  60  is designed to mimic the size and weight of pollen, and as such, will have a size ranging between 100 microns to 300 microns. The weight ratio of the wax to other ingredients in the dusting powder  60  ranges between .90:1 to .95:1. Furthermore, different dusting powder compositions will be used for varying seasons, and rotation dusting powder compositions will also prevent mites from generating a tolerance to the dusting powder  60 . Relative proportions of the ingredients can be adjusted to optimize results based upon the stipulated design factors and desired characteristics and qualities of the end-user. The chart below provides three exemplary embodiments of dusting powder  60  compositions: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 Formula 1 - Fall 
                 Formula 2 - Summer 
                 Formula 3 - Spring 
               
             
            
               
                 Rosemary (10%) 
                 Cinnamon (5%) 
                 Lemongrass (5%) 
               
               
                 Wax (90%) 
                 Wax (95%) 
                 Wax (95%) 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     When the honey bees come into contact with the dusting powder  60 , the varroa mites may detach voluntarily or forcefully. Any mites that do not detach voluntarily are removed during the grooming process. Any mites which attempt to attach to the honey bees after dusting will be prevented from doing so, as the dusting powder  60  creates a slippery surface and does not allow the mites to attach. Furthermore, the mesh floor  23  of the device  10  will eject most mites that fall from the bees during grooming, further preventing them from reattaching. The dusting powder  60  is not harmful to honey bees, and as such, applying the dusting powder  60  to honey bees provides a practical means of eliminating varroa mites without disrupting the natural behavior of the honey bees. In an alternative embodiment, the dusting powder  60  further comprises carnauba wax. 
     While the above description contains specific details regarding certain elements, sizes, and other teachings, it is understood that embodiments of the invention or any combination of them may be practiced without these specific details. Specifically, although weights and ratios are designated in the above embodiments, any suitable weight and ratio may be used. These details should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but merely as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiments. In other instances, well-known structures, elements, and techniques have not been shown to clearly explain the details of the invention.