Because the invention from the wooden beehive 150+ in years past, there’ve been few innovations in beehive design. But that’s all changing now-at warp speed. Where other industries had the posh to evolve slowly, beekeeping must deploy the newest technologies if it’s to work facing growing habitat loss, pollution, pesticide use and also the spread of worldwide pathogens.

Enter 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 weekly or monthly basis, smart hives monitor colonies 24/7, and so can alert beekeepers towards the dependence on intervention after a problem situation occurs.

“Until the arrival of smart hives, beekeeping was actually a mechanical process.” Says our founder and Chief Science Officer, Dr. Noah Wilson-Rich. “With technology we’re bringing bees to the Internet of Things. When you can adjust your home’s heat, turn lights off and on, see who’s your door, all from a cell phone, why don’t you perform same with beehives?”

While many begin to see the economic potential of smart hives-more precise pollinator management will surely have significant impact on the final outcome of farmers, orchardists and commercial beekeepers-Wilson-Rich and his awesome team at Best Bees is most encouraged by their affect bee health. “In the U.S. we lose nearly half of our bee colonies every year.“ Says Wilson-Rich. “Smart hives accommodate more precise monitoring and treatment, and that could mean an important improvement in colony survival rates. That’s success for everyone in the world.”

The very first smart hives to be sold utilize solar power, micro-sensors and mobile phone apps to observe conditions in hives and send reports to beekeepers’ phones about the conditions in each hive. Most smart hive systems include monitors that measure hive weight, temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, acoustics and in some cases, bee count.

Weight. Monitoring hive weight gives beekeepers an indication with the start and stop of nectar flow, alerting them to the call to feed (when weight is low) and to harvest honey (when weight is high). Comparing weight across hives gives beekeepers feeling of the relative productivity of each colony. A spectacular stop by weight can advise that the colony has swarmed, or even the hive has become knocked over by animals.

Temperature. Monitoring hive temperature can alert beekeepers to dangerous conditions: excessive heat indicating the hive needs to be gone after a shady spot or ventilated; unusually low heat indicating the hive ought to be insulated or shielded from cold winds.

Humidity. While honey production creates a humid environment in hives, excessive humidity, especially in the winter, can be quite a danger to colonies. Monitoring humidity levels let beekeepers understand that moisture build-up is happening, indicating any excuses for better ventilation and water removal.

CO2 levels. While bees can tolerate higher numbers of CO2 than humans, excessive levels can kill them. Monitoring CO2 levels can alert beekeepers to the must ventilate hives.

Acoustics. Acoustic monitoring within hives can alert beekeepers with a amount of dangerous situations: specific modifications in sound patterns could mean the loss of a queen, swarming tendency, disease, or hive raiding.

Bee count. Counting the quantity of bees entering and leaving a hive may give beekeepers an indication with the size and health of colonies. For commercial beekeepers this can indicate nectar flow, and also the must relocate hives to more productive areas.

Mite monitoring. Australian scientists are tinkering with a new gateway to hives that where bees entering hives are photographed and analyzed to determine if bees have acquired mites while away from hive, alerting beekeepers from the should treat those hives to stop mite infestation.

A few of the more complex (and expensive) smart hives are designed to automate a lot of standard beekeeping work. These normally include environmental control, swarm prevention, mite treatment and honey harvesting.

Environmental control. When data indicate a hive is way 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 getting ready to swarm, automated hives can adjust hive conditions, preventing a swarm from occurring.

Mite treatment. When sensors indicate the existence of mites, automated hives can release anti-mite treatments like formic acid. Some bee scientists are using CO2, allowing levels to climb high enough in hives to kill mites, although not adequate to endanger bees. Others work with a prototype of a hive “cocoon” that raises internal temperatures to 108 degrees, a degree of heat that kills most varroa mites.

Feeding. When weight monitors indicate ‘abnormal’ amounts of honey, automated hives can release stores of sugar water.

Honey harvesting. When weight levels indicate an abundance of honey, self-harvesting hives can split cells, allowing honey to drain out of specifically created frames into containers below the hives, willing to tap by beekeepers.

While smart hives are simply beginning to be adopted by beekeepers, forward thinkers on the market already are exploring the next generation of technology.

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