Abstract: In order to artificially produce a honeycomb that is equivalent to honeycomb that honeybees produce in a natural environment, an artificial honeycomb is provided of which at least one pair of facing walls among the six walls configuring each honeycomb cell is formed in an inclined manner such that the gap between the two expands from the floor end of the walls towards the opening, and the floor plates and the walls are formed from a polylactic acid resin.

Abstract: A beekeeping apparatus includes a bottom side having an arcuate groove defined therein, the arcuate groove being sized and dimensioned to correspond to the rim of a repository; and a top side including a recessed area defined therein, the recessed area being sized and dimensioned to correspond to a beekeeping frame, and a plurality of generally rectangular openings defined through the recessed area, the rectangular openings each being sized and dimensioned to receive and retain a portion of a beekeeping frame, and collectively being sized and dimensioned to receive and retain portions of different sizes of beekeeping frames.

Abstract: A beekeeping apparatus includes a bottom side having an arcuate groove defined therein, the arcuate groove being sized and dimensioned to correspond to the rim of a repository; and a top side including a recessed area defined therein, the recessed area being sized and dimensioned to correspond to a beekeeping frame, and a plurality of generally rectangular openings defined through the recessed area, the rectangular openings each being sized and dimensioned to receive and retain a portion of a beekeeping frame, and collectively being sized and dimensioned to receive and retain portions of different sizes of beekeeping frames.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with providing an artificial honeycomb foundation sheet for use in beehives or the like, said foundation sheet being generally planar in form and comprising a three dimensional lattice of struts which define, on both sides of the sheet, a respective array of depressions which correspond geometrically with natural honeycomb cell bases, the array on one side of the sheet being nested with the array of depressions on the other side of the sheet, and the entire sheet, in use, being coated in bees wax which forms membranes across lattice openings defined by the struts framing the depressions.

Abstract: In the prior art, the full honeycombs or the foundations are made with resin and the beekeeper sprays beeswax onto the honeycomb or the foundation in order to have the bees become attracted to the resin or high density polyethylene honeycomb or foundation. The present invention involves the concept of evenly coating the plastic resin pellets with hot melted beeswax so that the coated pellets have the beeswax admixed thereon. Therefore, at the time of the molding of the plastic pellets into a foundation, a foundation with border, or honeycomb, the final molded product will have the beeswax molded therein, so that the bees will automatically be attracted to the honeycomb or the foundation so that they can automatically place their honey into the honeycomb or build the honeycomb right onto the foundation and lay their eggs, raise their brood and deposit honey into the honeycomb.

Abstract: Unadulterated and natural honey is packaged in a template by providing a plurality of templates formed from planar wood members that are vertically installed in a box-like container mounted above a beehive and providing a recess in the planar wood member that is closed on the bottom face by a wax foundation sheet where passageways lead the worker bees and excludes the queen bee to the recess for depositing the honey. The template is removed from the box-like container and installed in a box or package for retail sales and obviating the necessity of transporting the honey from the beehive to the processing plant and avoiding the steps of centrifuging and heating.

Abstract: A beeswax mimetic substance is described which comprises or consists essentially of a synthetic or semisynthetic wax, in particular a microcrystalline wax. The wax preferably has a relatively narrow range of mean carbon chain length. An apiculture accessory using the wax and a method of operating beehives using the wax to reduce disease and pests in beehives is described.

Abstract: An artificial honeycomb for hives with a body created from plastic material. The body has a multiplicity of hexagonal small cells, on one or both sides of a dividing film. The dividing film acts as a common base for all the small cells. The hexagonal small cells on one side of the dividing wall may be off-set with respect to the small cells on the other side of the dividing wall. The hexagonal small cells may be inclined horizontally. The honeycomb structure may be equipped with a border or an integral or fitted on perimeter frame. A substance compatible with the bees and one attractive to them may be applied to the small cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a royal jelly collection frame which enables to cultivate the queen bees easily and to collect royal jelly productively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the harvesting of royal jelly. The method comprises the use of a first matrix of cell-like structures in an arrangement typical of normal worker bee cells which have interconnected plugs placed in the back of the matrix. A queen bee may then lay this matrix of cells with eggs. Upon the eggs turning into larvae, the plugs may be removed and the plugs are provided in interconnected sets such that each set provides plugs for each alternate cell in the first matrix of cells. These plugs may then be fitted to a second matrix of cells which provide larger, queen-like cells at a spacing of substantially the same as the alternate cells in the first matrix. The second matrix may then be placed in a queenless hive for the bees to fill the larger cells of the second matrix with royal jelly which may then be harvested.

Abstract: A process for modulating the behavior of the worker bees of a rearing colony in an orphan or starter hive or in the orphan part of a hive, by incorporating a bouquet comprising one or more pheromones in the constitutive matter of the cupules, grafting of larvae in the cupules of a frame or comb enabling the larvae to be fed by the rearing colony, and placing the frame or comb in the orphan or starter hive or said orphan part of the hive in contact with the rearing colony. The invention also relates to a cupule of a comb or a frame for a starter or rearing hive, into which said cupule a bee larva may be grafted, having in its constitutive matter a bouquet comprising one or more pheromones.

Abstract: Beehive accessories are disclosed including artificial honeycomb, foundation units, covers, bottom boards, queen excluders, queen cages, cell cups and the like. These components are formed as a solid homogeneous mass from polypropylene copolymer and from 7.5 to 15% by weight of a wax.