Abstract: An artificial beehive includes at least one artificial hive chamber for storing a bee colony and/or honey produced by a bee colony; with at least one removable frame stored in the hive chamber, the frame serving as a supporting base for the production of a honeycomb, and being removable from the hive chamber for extraction of honey from the honeycomb; and at least one cover that closes the hive chamber from an external environment. The hive chamber includes at least one interior surface having grooves extending therealong, the grooves having a depth of between about 1 mm and about 6 mm, and arranged in a predetermined and repeatable pattern.

Abstract: A board which can be used to form a beehive for solitary bees and/or wasps, the board including a first surface and a second surface which is opposite to the first surface, wherein the first surface having a plurality of holes defined therein, wherein the board further includes a plurality of individual tube members which project from the second surface and wherein each tube member is aligned with a respective hole defined in the first surface so that a bee can pass via a hole into the tube member which is aligned with the hole and wherein the plurality of tube members are arranged such that there are voids between adjacent tube members. There is further provided a device (beehive) which includes a plurality of the boards; and a method of forming a device (beehive) which includes a plurality of the boards.

Abstract: This invention discloses an artificial habitat site for beneficial insects. The habitat is made by stacking grooved bricks on top of one another to create cavities or tunnels for insects to nest, shelter, or overwinter. The bricks are made from durable and reusable materials that are easy to maintain and sanitize.

Abstract: A processing unit for solitary bees is utilized in a method of timely providing a sufficient number of bees for pollinating a flowering crop. The processing unit provides secure storage for the solitary bees at every stage of their life cycle, and provides precise control of environmental conditions to ensure that the bees complete each stage of their life cycle in the optimum state of health and viability, and to ensure that adult bees emerge in close agreement with predicted emergence. The processing unit provides for protection against parasites, predators and pathogens, and may provide for feeding and mating of the bees. The processing unit may be used with any type of solitary bee nest. The processing unit may be fabricated in modularized components, allowing for increased capacity as required.

Abstract: This invention discloses a bee nest for protecting bees from the environment. The bee nest has desiccating and insulating properties, as well as properties that repulse and deter varrora destructor mites. The bee nest comprises a housing having a first open end and a second open end. The first open end is covered by a first end plate which has ventilation means for the housing. A second end plate encloses the second end. Within the housing, there are a plurality of elongate conduits or tubes. Surrounding the plurality of elongate conduits is filler medium, such as crushed volcanic rock filler. Optionally essential oils to deter mites are distributed on the rock filler.

Abstract: A nest for solitary bees may be fashioned from a rectangular solid of either a solid matrix or a number of nest elements. Each side of the nest contains a multiplicity of apertures, where each aperture provides a nesting cavity for the bees. Each aperture has an open end and a closed end. If fashioned from individual nest elements, the orientation of the apertures may be adjusted as desired, such that each element may be stacked upon an adjacent element in one of four orientations, so that the cavities of one element may be at 0°, 90°, 180° or 270° relative to an adjacent element. If desired, the aperture density of each side may be adjusted as desired. The configuration of the nesting cavities of the present invention reduces congestion at nest entrances and provides shelter to the bees from predators and the environment.

Abstract: This invention discloses a bee nest for protecting bees from the environment. The bee nest has desiccating and insulating properties, as well as properties that repulse and deter varrora destructor mites. The bee nest comprises a housing having a first open end and a second open end. The first open end is covered by a first end plate which has ventilation means for the housing. A second end plate encloses the second end. Within the housing, there are a plurality of elongate conduits or tubes. Surrounding the plurality of elongate conduits is filler medium, such as crushed volcanic rock filler. Optionally essential oils to deter mites are distributed on the rock filler.

Abstract: A standing length of untreated deadwood timber, having a 2?-6? diameter and an above ground length of between 3? and 9?, has a flattened face with sets of different diameter holes drilled therein. Colorful ribbons, in addition to the aroma of the decaying deadwood, attract multiple species of native solitary bees to the bee pole to use the holes to lay eggs therein. The pole is planted 1.5 to 2? in soil adjacent fields, gardens or orchards which need pollination.

Abstract: Incubation and emergence of solitary-nesting pollinating bees from their nests or cocoons under field conditions may be effected using a device including a first outer and second inner hollow containers wherein a nest containing the bees may be disposed, and first and second communicating openings are provided on the lower surfaces of the containers to provide access to the environment from the nest in the inner container. To allow egress of bees from the nests to the environment while inhibiting or preventing their return, a one-way exit is provided in communication with the second opening, which is also attached to or extends through the first opening. Controlled heating of the nests are effected by disposing a heating element within the outer container, external of the inner container. A temperature controller for the heating element and an electrical power source for providing power thereto are also provided.

Abstract: A modular nest including a backing member including a pair of generally opposing leafs connected to a spine and a removable nesting substrate including a plurality of grooves formed on a first face, the plurality of grooves forming a plurality of nesting cavities when the nesting substrate is folded along a line substantially perpendicular to an axis of one of the plurality of grooves, the nesting substrate removably inserted between the pair of generally opposing leafs of the backing member. A nest closure member is adapted for selective engagement for holding the backing member and the nesting substrate in a closed position wherein the plurality of grooves form the plurality of nesting cavities and an open position wherein the nesting substrate is laid open and the plurality of grooves are exposed.

Abstract: A nesting block for the rearing and management of cavity nesting solitary bees used for pollinating crops is disclosed. The nesting block includes a chamber having at least one substantially flat face, and a plurality of open tubes which extend therefrom into the chamber and which are closed at their opposite end. The chamber is formed from an organic polymeric material of which a major proportion thereof is polycarbonate.

Abstract: A bee nest made from a plurality of bee board laminates held in close side by side relation by a permanent, flexible and lightproof backing material. The nest includes a mechanism for releasably opening and closing the nest at the front edges of the laminates.

Abstract: In the raising and propagation of leaf cutter bees, rectangular nesting blocks molded from thermal plastics and having a number of open-ended apertures therethrough, are used. Each leaf cutter bee chooses one of the apertures in which to raise its sole progeny in the form of a larvae. In a typical leaf cutter bee nesting shelter, there may be several thousand apertures which appear to be identical. In order to orient the bee to its own aperture, the present invention uses a plurality of raised projections or portions on the front surface of the blocks to help the bees find their respective nesting apertures.

Abstract: A molded plastic leaf cutter bee nest block, having opposed sides, opposed ends, and opposed faces, formed of expanded plastic beads, having nonstandard length, to accommodate more integrally molded round bee holes. The holes may be tapered, for ease of stripping. The sides may be reinforced for ease of handling, assembling, strapping, transport and storage. High density polystyrene blocks have improved product life, while the blocks, reinforced or otherwise are parasite resistant.

Abstract: A nest for Megachile Rotundata bees describes a group of blind tunnels specifically designed to present bees with a near as possible natural tunnel to suit their instinctive nesting habit. The nest as described hereinbefore along with details of husbandry and managements of Megachile Rotundata bees is designed as a single use unit which simplifies protection and collection of young by simple means of fumigation and sterilization against disease possible present on retrievable progeny. The nest described herein has characteristics which will permit control of fungus, mould and infestation by predators, but still be durable for the period of activity of laying down of young by adults during pollination and breeding period. Costs incurred by seed growers, and owner of Megachile Rotundata bees will be considerably reduced by use of the herein described nest in conjunction with comparison to present practices now followed by labor and equipment intensiveness.