A high-efficiency cocoon-emerging device for mason bees

Abstract

This invention discloses a highly efficient cocoon-emerging device for mason bees, comprising: a box body with a detachable box cover; a cocoon-emerging assembly including a placement plate, a support plate, several connecting rods, and several bee tube assemblies; the placement plate having several first insertion holes, and the support plate having second insertion holes; the ends of the connecting rods being detachably connected to the placement plate and the support plate, respectively; each bee tube assembly including a long tube closed at one end, a mesh tube open at both ends, and a short tube; the long tube engaging with the first insertion holes, and the short tube engaging with each other; one end of the mesh tube sliding within the long tube, and the other end positioned within the short tube; a heating device for heating the interior of the box body; and a feeding device for providing nectar to the short tubes. This invention can shorten the cocoon-emerging time of mason bees and improve their survival rate after cocoon emergence.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mason bee farming technology, and in particular to a highly efficient cocoon-producing device for mason bees. Background Technology

[0002] Mason bees are excellent pollinators for fruit trees in the Rosaceae family, such as apples, pears, peaches, cherries, apricots, and plums, as well as kiwifruit. The mason bees used in our production are the *Horned Mason Bee*, introduced from Japan. The *Horned Mason Bee* belongs to the family Leafcutter Bees (order Hymenoptera). This wild bee is blackish-gray, 10-15 mm in length, with females slightly larger than males but smaller than honeybees. Through artificial domestication, they are induced to build nests together, spending approximately 320 days a year in the tube nest and about 40 days outside. Adults overwinter in cocoons within the tube nest. The following spring, when the temperature rises to 12℃, the adults begin to emerge from the cocoons. Currently, by placing the cocoons in the orchard, the mason bees gradually emerge, with all emerging within 7-10 days. However, this method is slow, and the emergence rate slows further during cold weather, making it impossible to guarantee that the emergence coincides with the fruit tree's flowering period, which is a drawback. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems and provide a highly efficient cocoon-producing device for mason bees.

[0004] The technical solution of the present invention: a high-efficiency cocoon-producing device for mason bees, comprising:

[0005] The box body has a detachable lid;

[0006] The cocoon-emerging assembly includes a placement plate, a support plate, a number of connecting rods, and a number of honeycomb tube assemblies. The placement plate has a number of first insertion holes, and the support plate has a number of second insertion holes. The ends of the connecting rods are detachably connected to the placement plate and the support plate, respectively. The honeycomb tube assembly includes a long tube closed at one end, a mesh tube open at both ends, and a short tube. The long tube mates with the first insertion holes, and the short tube mates with each other. One end of the mesh tube can slide inside the long tube, and the other end is disposed inside the short tube.

[0007] A heating device is used to heat the interior of the enclosure;

[0008] A feeding device for supplying nectar to the short tube.

[0009] Preferably, the lid of the box is provided with a through first long groove; the heating device includes a plurality of electric heating elements and an exhaust fan, the plurality of electric heating elements are divided into several groups and are all arranged in the first long groove, and the plurality of exhaust fans are all arranged at the bottom of the box.

[0010] Preferably, the bottom of the box body is provided with several air holes, the box cover is provided with a through second elongated groove, and the support plate is provided with several storage cavities and oblique holes, the storage cavities being connected to the second insertion hole and the oblique holes; the feeding device includes a piston plate, a pull rod, and an L-shaped baffle, the piston plate being connected to the pull rod and one side of the piston plate abutting against the support plate, one end of the pull rod passing through the second elongated groove, and the baffle being detachably mounted on the box cover and one end of the baffle passing through the second elongated groove abutting against one side of the pull rod.

[0011] Preferably, the feeding device further includes a vertical plate, a push plate, and a push rod. The vertical plate is disposed inside the box, and one end of the push rod passes through the vertical plate and is connected to the push plate, while the other end extends out of the box.

[0012] Preferably, the baffle is connected to the box cover by bolts.

[0013] Preferably, both the placement plate and the support plate are provided with a plurality of third insertion holes, and the connecting rod cooperates with the third insertion holes.

[0014] Preferably, the lid is connected to the box body by bolts.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are: it can shorten the cocooning time of mason bees and improve their survival rate after cocooning. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a front view of the overall structure of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the overall structure of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Enlarged view of a portion of point A in the middle;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a top view of the box cover in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the placement plate in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the support plate in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Reference numerals: Box body 10, box cover 101, first long slot 1011, second long slot 1012, air hole 102, placement plate 2, first insertion hole 201, support plate 3, second insertion hole 301, storage cavity 302, oblique hole 303, connecting rod 4, long pipe 5, mesh pipe 6, short pipe 7, electric heating element 8, exhaust fan 9, piston plate 11, pull rod 12, baffle 13, vertical plate 14, push plate 15, push rod 16. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] Reference Figures 1 to 6 A highly efficient cocoon-emerging device for mason bees, comprising:

[0025] The box body 10 has a detachable box cover 101 on it;

[0026] The cocoon-emerging assembly includes a placement plate 2, a support plate 3, a number of connecting rods 4, and a number of honeycomb tube assemblies. The placement plate 2 has a number of first insertion holes 201, and the support plate 3 has a number of second insertion holes 301. The ends of the connecting rods 4 are detachably connected to the placement plate 2 and the support plate 3, respectively. The honeycomb tube assembly includes a long tube 5 closed at one end, a mesh tube 6 open at both ends, and a short tube 7. The long tube 5 cooperates with the first insertion holes 201, and the short tube 7 cooperates with each other. One end of the mesh tube 6 can slide inside the long tube 5, and the other end is set inside the short tube 7.

[0027] A heating device is used to supply heat to the interior of the housing 10;

[0028] A feeding device is used to provide nectar to the short tube 7. In this invention, the bee tube assembly storing the bee cocoon is removed, and the short tube 7 is pulled outward to pull the mesh tube 6 out of the long tube 5. Since the outer part of the pupating bee cocoon was attached to the inner wall of the long tube 5 through the mesh tube 6 when it was in the long tube 5 last time, when the mesh tube 6 is pulled out, some bee cocoon silk will remain on the inner wall of the long tube 5, thereby reducing the thickness of the bee cocoon and facilitating the subsequent cocoon emergence of the mason bee. Then the mesh tube 6 is put back into the long tube 5, and the long tube 5 is placed into the first insertion hole 201. After several connecting rods 4 are installed between the placement plate 2 and the support plate 3, the placement plate 2 and the support plate 3 are inverted so that the support plate 3 is at the bottom. The mesh tube 6 flows out of the long tube 5, and the short tube 7 falls into the second insertion hole 301. Place the placement plate 2 and support plate 3 horizontally inside the box 10. After closing the box cover 101, the heating device will heat the inside of the box 10, causing the mason bees to quickly emerge from their cocoons. Since the mason bees emerge from their cocoons at different times, nectar is provided to the short tube 7 through the feeding device to feed the mason bees that emerge from their cocoons first. After all the mason bees have emerged from their cocoons, remove the box cover 101 and transfer the placement plate 2 and support plate 3 together to the pre-built honeycomb. Move the mesh tube 6 back into the long tube 5, and remove the support plate 3 and connecting rod 4. The mason bees will pollinate the fruit trees in the orchard. When the fruit trees finish flowering, the pollination task is completed, and the bee breeding ends. Remove the bee tube assembly inside the placement plate 2 and store it.

[0029] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it may also have the following additional technical features:

[0030] In this embodiment, the box cover 101 is provided with a through first long groove 1011; the heating device includes a plurality of electric heating elements 8 and exhaust fans 9. The plurality of electric heating elements 8 are divided into several groups and are all arranged in the first long groove 1011. The plurality of exhaust fans 9 are all arranged at the bottom of the box body 10. The pulled-out mesh tube 6 is in the area enclosed by the box body 10, the box cover 101, the placement plate 2 and the support plate 3. When the electric heating elements 8 and the exhaust fans 9 are working, the exhaust fans 9 drive hot air to flow from top to bottom, raising the temperature inside the box body 10 so that the mason bees can emerge from their cocoons in a suitable temperature environment. The plurality of electric heating elements 8 are divided into several groups. After the mason bees have emerged from their cocoons, each group of electric heating elements 8 is turned off in turn at intervals to lower the temperature inside the box body 10 to the same as the outdoor temperature, so that the mason bees can adapt to the environment in advance and improve the survival rate of the mason bees. Specifically, the electric heating element 8 is an electric heating wire or other electrically heated element; the function of the support plate 3 is to support the short tube 7 and at the same time prevent the bees emerging from their cocoons from flying out of the mesh tube 6.

[0031] In this embodiment, the bottom of the box body 10 is provided with a plurality of air holes 102, the box cover 101 is provided with a through second elongated groove 1012, and the support plate 3 is provided with a plurality of storage cavities 302 and inclined holes 303, the storage cavities 302 communicating with the second insertion hole 301 and the inclined holes 303; the feeding device includes a piston plate 11, a pull rod 12 and an L-shaped baffle 13, the piston plate 11 is connected to the pull rod 12 and one side of the piston plate 11 abuts against the support plate 3, one end of the pull rod 12 passes through the second elongated groove 1012, and the baffle 13 is detachably mounted on the box body 10. The lid 101 is placed on the box, with one end passing through the second long groove 1012 and abutting against one side of the pull rod 12. The placement plate 2 and support plate 3 are placed inside the box body 10, followed by the piston plate 11 and pull rod 12. The lid 101 is then closed. After a mason bee emerges from its cocoon, nectar is poured from the second long groove 1012 into the area enclosed by the box body 10, support plate 3, piston plate 11, and pull rod 12. After the baffle 13 is installed on the lid 101, the pull rod 12 is pulled upwards. The nectar, propelled by the upward movement of the pull rod 12, flows from the inclined hole 303 into the storage cavity 302, and then from the storage cavity 302 into the short tube 7 to feed the mason bee. Specifically, the bottom of the storage cavity 302 is inclined; the inclined hole 303 is smaller than the volume of the mason bee.

[0032] In this embodiment, the feeding device further includes a vertical plate 14, a push plate 15, and a push rod 16. The vertical plate 14 is disposed inside the box 10. One end of the push rod 16 passes through the vertical plate 14 and is connected to the push plate 15, and the other end passes out of the box 10. After the piston plate 11 moves to the top, it pushes the push rod 16 to move the push plate 15 to the right, causing air to flow in the area enclosed by the box 10, the support plate 3, the push plate 15, and the piston plate 11, which in turn causes the nectar remaining in the oblique hole 303 to flow into the storage cavity 302.

[0033] In this embodiment, the baffle 13 is connected to the box cover 101 by bolts, which facilitates the installation and removal of the baffle 13.

[0034] In this embodiment, both the placement plate 2 and the support plate 3 are provided with a plurality of third insertion holes. The connecting rod 4 cooperates with the third insertion holes. One end of the connecting rod 4 is inserted into the third insertion hole on the placement plate 2, and the other end of the connecting rod 4 is inserted into the third insertion hole on the support plate 3, so that the placement plate 2 and the support plate 3 are spaced a certain distance apart. The placement plate 2 and the support plate 3 are inverted, and the short tube 7 falls into the second insertion hole 301. Then the placement plate 2 and the support plate 3 are placed flat in the box 10. After the mason bees have finished emerging from their cocoons, the placement plate 2 and the support plate 3 are taken out from the box 10. With the placement plate 2 at the bottom, the placement plate 2 and the support plate 3 can be transferred to the honeycomb. Subsequently, the support plate 3 and the connecting rod 4 can be removed.

[0035] In this embodiment, the box cover 101 is connected to the box body 10 by bolts, which facilitates the installation and removal of the box cover 101.

[0036] It should be noted that the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0037] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A high-efficiency device for extracting cocoons from wall bees, characterized in that, Includes: a box body (10) with a detachable lid (101) on it, the bottom of the box body (10) having several air holes (102), and the lid (101) having a through second long groove (1012); a cocoon-emerging assembly, including a placement plate (2), a support plate (3), and several connecting rods (4) and several beehive tube assemblies, the placement plate (2) having several first insertion holes (201), the support plate (3) having several second insertion holes (301), the support plate (3) having several storage cavities (302) and inclined holes (303), the storage cavities (302) communicating with the second insertion holes (301) and the inclined holes (303), the connecting rods (4) and the beehive tube assemblies (5) having several first insertion holes (201), the support plate (3) having several second insertion holes (301) and the inclined holes (303), the connecting rods (4) having several first insertion holes (201), the support plate (3) having several second insertion holes (301) and the supporting plate (303) having several storage cavities (302) and inclined holes (303), the storage cavities (302) communicating with the second insertion holes (301) and the inclined holes (303), the connecting rods (4) having several first insertion holes (201), the support plate (301) having several first insertion holes (201), the support plate (301) having several second insertion holes (301) and inclined holes (303), the supporting plate (301) having several first insertion holes (201), the support plate (301) having several second ... The ends of the connecting rod (4) are detachably connected to the placement plate (2) and the support plate (3), respectively. The bee tube assembly includes a long tube (5) closed at one end, a mesh tube (6) open at both ends, and a short tube (7). The long tube (5) is fitted with the first insertion hole (201), and the short tube (7) is fitted with the second insertion hole (301). One end of the mesh tube (6) can slide inside the long tube (5), and the other end is set inside the short tube (7). A heating device is used to heat the inside of the box (10). A feeding device is used to provide nectar to the short tube (7). The feeding device includes a piston plate (11), a pull rod (12), and an L-shaped baffle (13). The piston plate (11) and the pull rod (13) are connected to each other. The rod (12) is connected and one side of the piston plate (11) abuts against the support plate (3). One end of the pull rod (12) passes through the second long groove (1012). The baffle (13) is detachably mounted on the box cover (101) and one end of it passes through the second long groove (1012) and abuts against one side of the pull rod (12). The bee tube assembly storing the bee cocoons is taken out. The short tube (7) is pulled outward to pull the mesh tube (6) out of the long tube (5). Since the outer part of the pupating bee cocoon will pass through the mesh tube (6) and attach to the inner wall of the long tube (5) when it is in the long tube (5) last time, when the mesh tube (6) is pulled out, some bee cocoon silk will remain on the inner wall of the long tube (5), thus reducing the size of the bee cocoon. The thickness facilitates the subsequent cocooning of the mason bees. Then, the mesh tube (6) is put back into the long tube (5), and the long tube (5) is placed into the first insertion hole (201). After several connecting rods (4) are installed between the placement plate (2) and the support plate (3), the placement plate (2) and the support plate (3) are inverted so that the support plate (3) is below. The mesh tube (6) flows out from the long tube (5) and the short tube (7) falls into the second insertion hole (301). The placement plate (2) and the support plate (3) are placed horizontally in the box (10). After the box cover (101) is closed, the heating device works to heat the inside of the box (10), so that the mason bees can quickly break out of their cocoons.

2. The efficient cocoon-producing device for mason bees according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cover (101) is provided with a through first long groove (1011); the heating device includes a number of electric heating elements (8) and exhaust fans (9), the number of electric heating elements (8) are divided into several groups and are all arranged in the first long groove (1011), and the number of exhaust fans (9) are all arranged at the bottom of the box body (10).

3. The efficient cocoon-producing device for mason bees according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feeding device also includes a vertical plate (14), a push plate (15) and a push rod (16). The vertical plate (14) is disposed inside the box (10). One end of the push rod (16) passes through the vertical plate (14) and is connected to the push plate (15), and the other end passes out of the box (10).

4. The efficient cocoon-producing device for mason bees according to claim 1, characterized in that: The baffle (13) is connected to the box cover (101) by bolts.

5. The efficient cocoon-producing device for mason bees according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the placement plate (2) and the support plate (3) are provided with a number of third insertion holes, and the connecting rod (4) cooperates with the third insertion holes.

6. The efficient cocoon-producing device for mason bees according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lid (101) is connected to the box body (10) by bolts.

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