Because the invention in the wooden beehive 150+ years ago, there’ve been few innovations in beehive design. But that’s all changing now-at warp speed. Where other industries had the luxury to evolve slowly, beekeeping must deploy the latest technologies if it’s to function facing growing habitat loss, pollution, pesticide use along with the spread of worldwide pathogens.
Type in the “Smart Hive”
-a system of scientific bee care built to precisely monitor and manage conditions in hives. Where traditional beekeepers might visit each hive over a regular basis, smart hives monitor colonies 24/7, therefore can alert beekeepers for the requirement for intervention after a problem situation occurs.
“Until the advent of smart hives, beekeeping was actually an analog process.” Says our founder and Chief Science Officer, Dr. Noah Wilson-Rich. “With technology we’re bringing bees in the Internet of Things. If you possibly could adjust your home’s heat, turn lights on / off, see who’s at the door, all from the smart phone, why don't you carry out the in final summary is beehives?”
While many start to see the economic potential of smart hives-more precise pollinator management may have significant impact on the bottom line of farmers, orchardists and commercial beekeepers-Wilson-Rich with his fantastic team at the best Bees is most encouraged by their influence on bee health. “In the U.S. we lose almost half of our bee colonies annually.“ Says Wilson-Rich. “Smart hives permit more precise monitoring and treatment, knowning that could mean a tremendous improvement in colony survival rates. That’s a victory for anyone on the planet.”
The first smart hives to be released utilize solar energy, micro-sensors and smart phone apps to evaluate conditions in hives and send reports to beekeepers’ phones on the conditions in each hive. Most smart hive systems include monitors that measure hive weight, temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, acoustics and in many cases, bee count.
Weight. Monitoring hive weight gives beekeepers a sign in the start and stop of nectar flow, alerting these to the requirement to feed (when weight is low) and to harvest honey (when weight is high). Comparing weight across hives gives beekeepers a sense the relative productivity of each colony. An impressive drop in weight can declare that the colony has swarmed, or hive continues to be knocked over by animals.
Temperature. Monitoring hive temperature can alert beekeepers to dangerous conditions: excessive heat indicating the hive must be moved to a shady spot or ventilated; unusually low heat indicating the hive must be insulated or resistant to cold winds.
Humidity. While honey production generates a humid environment in hives, excessive humidity, especially in the winter, can be quite a danger to colonies. Monitoring humidity levels allow for beekeepers know that moisture build-up is going on, indicating any excuses for better ventilation and water removal.
CO2 levels. While bees can tolerate greater degrees of CO2 than humans, excessive levels can kill them. Monitoring CO2 levels can alert beekeepers towards the must ventilate hives.
Acoustics. Acoustic monitoring within hives can alert beekeepers into a variety of dangerous situations: specific alterations in sound patterns could mean the losing of a queen, swarming tendency, disease, or hive raiding.
Bee count. Counting the number of bees entering and leaving a hive can give beekeepers a signal in the size and health of colonies. For commercial beekeepers this will indicate nectar flow, along with the need to relocate hives to more productive areas.
Mite monitoring. Australian scientists are using a brand new gateway to hives that where bees entering hives are photographed and analyzed to determine if bees have grabbed mites while away from hive, alerting beekeepers of the should treat those hives in order to avoid mite infestation.
Many of the higher (and dear) smart hives are built to automate most of standard beekeeping work. These normally include environmental control, swarm prevention, mite treatment and honey harvesting.
Environmental control. When data indicate a hive is simply too warm, humid or has CO2 build-up, automated hives can self-ventilate, optimizing internal environmental conditions.
Swarm prevention. When weight and acoustic monitoring declare that a colony is preparing to swarm, automated hives can adjust hive conditions, preventing a swarm from occurring.
Mite treatment. When sensors indicate the use of mites, automated hives can release anti-mite treatments including formic acid. Some bee scientists are using CO2, allowing levels to climb sufficient in hives to kill mites, although not sufficient to endanger bees. Others operate on a prototype of your hive “cocoon” that raises internal temperatures to 108 degrees, a level of heat that kills most varroa mites.
Feeding. When weight monitors indicate lower levels of honey, automated hives can release stores of sugar water.
Honey harvesting. When weight levels indicate a great deal of honey, self-harvesting hives can split cells, allowing honey to drain out of specially designed frames into containers underneath the hives, able to tap by beekeepers.
While smart hives are simply beginning to be adopted by beekeepers, forward thinkers in the market happen to be studying the next generation of technology.
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