Microprocessor-controlled monitoring of honeybee flight activity at the hive entrance

Abstract

Summary — An important parameter in evaluating the activity of a honeybee colony is given by the number of bees leaving and entering the hive as a function of time. The microprocessor-controlled counter described here presents many advantages over previous counting devices. The counter fits the standard hive measurement (10 combs), and provides access to the hive via 32 bi-directional channels. The very small infrared detectors in each channel are only 0.1 mm apart, and are controlled by an asynchronous sequential algorithm, which improves the counter's precision. Results of measurements of the daily activity of honeybee colonies under different conditions (normal, in the presence of pesticides, or during swarming) are presented.Apis mellifera / bee counter / flight activity / swarming / pesticides INTRODUCTION

Application of continuous monitoring of honeybee colonies

“…Burrill and Dietz (1981) gathered forager traffic data, using a photoelectric bee counter ("Apicard") placed at the hive entrance, for 30-min periods (data were recorded every 15 s and were pooled) over 23 consecutive days from a single colony of bees and analyzed those data with respect to ambient weather conditions. Danka and Beaman (2007) used commercially available bee counters of a design described by Struye et al (1994) to measure flight activity among 40 colonies of "Russian" and "Italian" bee races during blueberry pollination. Part of the objective of that study was to determine whether either race conducted more foraging flights per hour than the other race after controlling for weather and black globe temperature (Corbett et al 1993).…”

Automated beehive surveillance using computer vision

“…A balanced flow of bees entering and departing from the hive is an indication of a healthy hive, as bees leave the hive to gather resources and return when they are done. This information could be gathered by a sensor based system, utilizing infrared gates to detect objects passing through the hive entrance [2]. However, a vision-based system has some key advantages over one that is based on sensors.…”

“…Another non-visual system that can very accurately count how many bees have entered and left the hive is described in [2]. This study describes a counter utilizing infrared sensors at the entrance.…”

Behavioural methods to assess the effects of pesticides on honey bees

“…Based on Brittain's system, several works have progressively improved the functioning of the apparatus (Kerfoot, 1966;Spangler, 1969;Burril and Dietz, 1973;Erickson et al, 1975). More recently, modern systems introduced electronic counters, the use of infra-red light sensors, two sensor couples to discriminate the direction of the bee movement, and computer data analyses (Marletto and Piton, 1983;Rickly et al, 1989;Liu et al, 1990;Struye et al, 1994). These devices were robust and adapted to outdoor conditions.…”