Patent ID: 7556552

Claim:
An apparatus for the field incubation and emergence of nesting solitary pollinating bees which comprises: a) a first openable/closable outer container comprising a hollow interior chamber and a bottom surface, said first bottom surface comprising a first opening therethrough, wherein said outer first container is constructed from a thermal insulating material; b) a second openable/closable inner container disposed within said hollow interior chamber of said first container, said second container comprising a hollow interior chamber and a second bottom surface, wherein said hollow interior chamber of said second container is effective for holding solitary-nesting pollinating bees therein, and said second bottom surface comprises a second opening therethrough in communication with said first opening, which said second opening and said first opening are of sufficient size to allow the passage of a solitary pollinating bee therethrough; c) a one-way exit attached to or extending through said first opening and in communication with said second opening to allow the egress of said bee from said hollow interior chamber of said second container to the environment while inhibiting the entrance of said bee into said hollow interior chamber of said second container from the environment; d) a heating element disposed within said hollow interior chamber of said first container and external of said second container effective for warming a nest disposed within said hollow interior chamber of said second container; e) a temperature controller in communication with said heating element effective for controlling said heating element; and f) an electrical power source operably connected to said heating element effective for providing power thereto.