Selective trapping device for Asian hornets, easel type

Abstract

The selective trapping device for Asian hornets (Vespa velutina), called the anti-hornet easel, represents a major advance in protecting honeybee colonies against Vespa velutina. Designed to operate throughout the beekeeping season, this device offers an effective solution to mitigate the devastating impact of Asian hornets on ecosystems and apiaries. Featuring remarkable selectivity, it captures only the targeted invasive species, thus preserving other insects. Its foldable design facilitates its transport and storage, offering flexibility of use in various environments. The anti-hornet easel is equipped with an integrated sealing system, ensuring a perfect adaptation to the structure of the hive and reinforcing its effectiveness. Composed of two separate parts, it optimizes the trapping of Asian hornets.The first part, called the capture part, guides the hornets to the top of the trap thanks to a convergent shape, and induces an intentional lack of light to encourage the insects to head upwards, where there are light wells, leading them to the second part, called the retention part. The latter is equipped with one-way entry cones, while a calibrated grid ensures the escape of bees and other insects, retaining only Asian hornets. Easy to clean thanks to a quick emptying system for dead hornets, this device is made with durable materials suitable for outdoor use. Requiring no bait, it exploits the natural behavior of honeybees and Asian hornets, and no energy input is required for its operation.In summary, the anti-hornet easel represents an innovative and environmentally friendly solution to protect honeybee colonies against the ravages of Asian hornets, thus preserving beekeeping activity and the balance of ecosystems, while allowing the free movement of bees and ensuring selective efficiency without restricting entry to the hive.

Description

Title of the invention: Selective device for trapping Asian hornets, easel type

[0001] The present invention described herein is a device designed to protect honeybee colonies against Asian hornets (Vespa Velutina). The main objective of this device is to preserve beekeeping activity by limiting the destructive impact of Asian hornets on apiaries and the surrounding ecosystem.

[0002] This device is innovative because it works without bait or energy, it is selective and does not restrict the entrance to the hive, allowing the free movement of bees.

[0003] The equipment in question is manufactured with materials suitable for outdoor use to ensure its durability, it is perfectly adapted to degraded climatic conditions such as wind or rain, in order to be able to operate efficiently throughout the beekeeping season while limiting human intervention.

[0004] It is functional during periods such as early spring and late autumn, when Asian hornet foundresses are active. It is also very effective in cases of severe pressure from Asian hornets during the rest of the beekeeping season.

[0005] The anti-hornet easel [Fig.4] is of convergent shape which forces some of the hornets to move towards the top of the device.

[0006] The easel is equipped with an integrated sealing system [Fig.l] which allows it to adapt perfectly to the dimensions of the hive by following its contours and thus optimizing the effectiveness of the device by restricting the flow of circulation of the hornets.

[0007] The easel is made up of two distinct parts:

[0008] a. The first part in the lower part, called the capture part,

[0009] b. The second part in the upper part, called retention or trap.

[0010] The first part, called the capture part, is made up of an adjustable door [Fig.2] allowing the trap's effectiveness to be optimized by adapting to different hive heights and maximizing the chances of retaining the hornets.

[0011] The capture part is designed to control the light input by creating darkness, thus encouraging the various insects to move towards the top of the device where light wells are located, and thus pass into the second part, called the retention part.

[0012] The retention part is equipped with entry cones [Fig.2] allowing the passage of hornets and other insects, only in one direction.

[0013] A calibrated grid [Fig.2] integrated into the retention part allows bees and other insects to escape, while larger Asian hornets are held captive inside this trap.

[0014] The retention part is designed for easy cleaning with a quick emptying system for dead hornets [Fig.3]. Apart from this cleaning intervention there is no need for human intervention to operate this trap.

[0015] In addition, this device is foldable [Fig.5], which makes it easy to transport and store.

[0016] The anti-hornet easel does not require any bait, because the bees naturally fulfill this role.

[0017] The anti-hornet easel does not require any energy source to operate, which makes it ecological and economical.

[0018] In summary, the anti-hornet easel represents an innovative and effective solution for protecting domestic bee colonies against the ravages of Asian hornets, thus contributing to the preservation of beekeeping activity and the ecosystem. Technical field

[0019] The technical area covered concerns the fight against Asian yellow-legged hornets (Vespa Velutina), an invasive exotic species considered a threat to bee colonies and plant production.

[0020] The national strategy aims to protect hives by reducing the pressure exerted by these hornets because it causes economic losses for beekeepers and consequences for the ecosystem. Prior art

[0021] According to the report entitled "National Strategy and Plan for the Control of Asian Yellow-Legged Hornets", published in February 2024, developed by the National Plan for the Control of Asian Yellow-Legged Hornets, led by GDS France and FREDON France (national federations of health organizations respectively in the animal and plant fields), brought together within the framework of the French Sanitary and Environmental Association (AFSE). The main control measure adopted consists of selective trapping of female colony founders in the spring. This method has demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing the number of Asian hornet nests. However, the available traps are not completely selective, which raises concerns about their impact on non-target species and biodiversity.Current recommendations emphasize the need to limit this impact by using more selective traps and respecting good trapping practices.

[0022] In addition, measures are being implemented to reduce stress on bee colonies, including the use of muzzles, electric harps, entry restrictions, and fall trapping. These strategies aim to maintain the func colony maintenance despite predation pressure, allowing bees to continue collecting pollen and nectar.

[0023] Although progress has been made in the fight against Asian yellow-legged hornets, challenges remain, particularly in the development of more selective traps.

[0024] [Fig. 1] is a front view photo of the easel taken at a ¾ angle and installed in front of a beehive.

[0025] [Fig.2] is a photo of the easel seen from the front.

[0026] [Fig.3] is a photo of the easel seen from the rear.

[0027] [Fig.4] is a photo of the easel seen from the front, taken at a ¾ angle.

[0028] [Fig.5] is a photo of the folded easel seen from the front, taken at a ¾ angle.

Claims

Claims

1. The selective device for trapping Asian hornets of the easel type, intended to protect colonies of domestic bees against Asian hornets (Vespa Velutina), characterized in that it is composed of two distinct parts, a capture part and a retention part in convergent form, thus forcing some of the hornets to move towards the top of the device.

2. The device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is equipped with an integrated sealing system allowing it to adapt perfectly to the dimensions of the hive by following its contours and thus allowing the efficiency of the device to be optimized by restricting the flow of circulation of the hornets.

3. The device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the first part, called the capture part, comprises an adjustable door making it possible to optimize the effectiveness of the trap by adapting to the different heights of hives.

4. The device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the capturing part is designed to control the light inputs, thus encouraging the different insects to move towards the top of the device.

5. The device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the retention part is equipped with inlet cones allowing the passage of hornets and other insects only in one direction.

6. The device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the retention part comprises an integrated calibrated grid allowing bees and other insects to escape while the Asian hornets are held captive inside the trap, which is designed for easy cleaning with a system for quickly emptying dead hornets.

7. The device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it is foldable, thus facilitating its transport and storage.

8. The device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it does not require any bait, the bees naturally fulfilling this role.

9. The device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it does not require any energy source to operate.

10. The device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it allows the free movement of bees, not restricting the entrance to the hive, while effectively capturing Asian hornets.

Images