Device for capturing species extraneous to a beehive

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (4) for capturing species extraneous to a beehive, such as Vespa velutina, which device is designed to be positioned in a flight hole (3) and comprises: an entrance unit (5); a passage cavity unit (6) comprising as many independent passage cavities (6-1; 6-2) as independent entrance sections (5-1; 5-2) of the entrance unit (5); and a unit (7) of narrowing passages, comprising as many narrowing passage sections (7-1; 7-2) as passage cavity sections (6-1; 6-2), which is disposed in the upper part of the corresponding passage cavity and in the lower part of one or more capture cavities (11-1; 11-2), wherein openings of two or more narrowing passage sections lead to a single associated capture cavity.

Description

[0001] AC DEVICE

[0002] TECHNICAL SECTOR

[0003] The invention falls within the technical field of hive entrance accessories.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] WO2021141417 A1 shows a trap with a single passage cavity. KR 200372161Y Y1 shows a trap for a two-queen hive with a single passage cavity per swarm. Most prior art traps work due to the positive phototaxis (attraction to light) and ascending tendency of non-hive species.

[0006] In prior art traps, when a specimen of a species foreign to the hive, such as the Vespa velutina, enters the trap entrance, it remains temporarily in a single passage cavity through which bees continue to move towards the hive interior. This activity attracts the attention of said specimen, which attacks them. Aside from the bee casualties it causes, the specimen takes longer to move to the capture cavity, and after successive attacks, it may even be attracted by the light entering through the entrance hole and return to exit through where it entered, without entering the capture cavity. Some prior art traps have filter openings permanently installed at the entrance to the entrance, which, by size discrimination, allow bees to pass while preventing the passage of larger species.These openings are usually designed to prevent the passage of smaller specimens of the foreign species, which also prevents larger drones from entering the hive. This means that the traps must be removed during periods when the hive may swarm; otherwise, the queen would be fertilized by the smaller drones, which would lead to genetic involution of the swarm. However, during these periods, there may also be pressure from foreign species, such as the velutina, which is becoming increasingly common. Many of the prior art traps are bulky (e.g., 300x400x430 mm), difficult to handle (e.g., to set up and take down), and take up substantial space, including for transport, especially in large apiaries. Installation and removal take a considerable amount of time.

[0007] EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention solves said problems by means of a device according to independent claim 1 or, as an alternative solution to the same problem, by means of two interrelated products specially adapted to interact with each other: a front device according to independent claim 2 and a base device according to independent claim 3, as well as a manufacturing instruction storage medium according to claim 17.

[0009] The invention solves the problem by dividing the trap's internal volume, providing independent passages between the exterior and the entrance, including independent passage cavities toward the hive and the capture cavity(ies) for each entrance section. In this way, a specimen of a foreign species, after entering the device and before moving to the capture cavity(ies) (due to positive phototaxy and the tendency of foreign species to ascend), cannot be distracted, nor can it attack bees circulating through other entrances and passage cavities, nor interrupt their normal work routine, which increases the transit rate of bees, reducing attacks and increasing captures.Sharing a single capture cavity for two or more of these independent passages allows for larger capture cavities and therefore reduces the number of reverse passages, that is, from the capture cavity to the passage cavities, thereby increasing the effectiveness and retention capacity of the capture cavity, in addition to reducing the maintenance of the capture chamber (such as cleaning). Similarly, in its most general conception, the device does not provide any size discrimination filter in the entrance to prevent the entry of velutina into the hive. This allows the trap to remain in place during periods when the hive may swarm, thereby increasing protection and allowing specimens to be captured during these periods. The scalable modular design allows the size of the device to be considerably reduced.In the case of realization by means of interrelated products (claims 2 and 3), a greater speed of activation and deactivation of the trap functionality is achieved and avoids having to uninstall the base throughout the year, a more compact design and an improvement in the cleaning of the base device.

[0010] In a first embodiment according to claim 4, the solution is based on the alternative embodiment of the invention by means of the interrelated products of claims 2 and 3, where, preferably, a temporary fixing and locking mechanism is added. Said embodiment allows the trap to be temporarily deactivated and activated quickly and safely. By merely removing the front device, the trap is completely deactivated and the operation of the hive is essentially the same as without the base device installed. In this way, the base can remain installed all year round, and the trap is quickly activated by simply inserting the front, which is locked by said mechanism. In a second embodiment according to claim 5, the device allows air to enter the capture cavity, reducing the probability of foreign species escaping through the passage openings.Preferably, it allows swarm members to exit directly to the outside from the capture cavity. In a third embodiment according to claim 6, the device comprises a single capture cavity, minimizing the associated maintenance work at the cost of a relative loss of flexibility in very specific applications. In a fourth embodiment according to claim 7, the pursuit of swarm members by specimens of the foreign species is made difficult without substantially affecting the flight capacity of the swarm members during transit, which also allows the swarm members to maintain a high exit speed.

[0011] In a fifth embodiment according to claim 8, the inclusion of the passage filters increases the level of protection of the hive by preventing the passage of foreign species into the hive. In a particular embodiment, said filters are modular and removable. In this way, it is possible to disassemble only the passage filter modules during times of the year when their use is inadvisable, such as times during which the hive may swarm, and reassemble them during the times of the year when it is advisable. In the case of implementation as interconnected products, the adjustment consists merely of removing the front device, removing the filters, and reinserting the front device, which can be done relatively quickly.

[0012] In a sixth embodiment according to claim 9, the device has a higher capture probability. In a seventh embodiment according to claim 10, the device achieves a higher probability of successful passages from the passage cavity to the capture cavity, and decreases the probability of passages in the reverse direction.

[0013] In an eighth embodiment according to claim 11, the provision of a cleaning and recirculation opening allows the volume of the capture cavity to be flexibly increased by the provision of an external container, either directly or via a tube. The same opening can be used for suction cleaning, which is particularly advantageous in embodiments that do not have another mechanism. In an implementation using interconnected products, cleaning is generally faster by simply removing the removable front device for emptying and then reinserting it into the base.In a ninth embodiment according to claim 12, the use of passage prefilters allows the members of the swarm to gain an advantage in terms of speed over an individual of a pursuing foreign species, which has difficulty passing, reducing the possibility of capturing the bee once the foreign species has entered the passage cavity.

[0014] In a tenth embodiment according to claim 13, the device comprises an entrance accessory unit. While the arrangement of any device according to the invention is beneficial to the hive, it interferes with the installation of other entrance accessories such as accessories for capturing pollen, mechanical parasite removers, accessories for administering food or medication, or for treatment or monitoring, among others. The beekeeper must choose which accessory to install. This tenth embodiment includes one or more such additional accessories within the device.

[0015] In an eleventh embodiment according to claim 14, the device allows the evacuation and / or collection of matter, such as varroa or pollen.

[0016] In a twelfth embodiment according to claim 15, the device allows the assembly of the input units, passage cavities and accessories in different orders forming a single assembly, which provides flexibility in the configuration of the device and speed of installation and removal.

[0017] In a thirteenth embodiment according to claim 16, the device facilitates the installation of accessories in the vicinity of the spout.

[0018] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] To complement the description being made and in order to help better understand the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description, in which the following has been represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes:

[0020] Figures 1 and 2.- Show a representation of devices according to the invention.

[0021] Figure 3.- Shows a representation of interrelated devices according to the invention.

[0022] Figure 4.- Shows a representation of interrelated devices assembled

[0023] Figure 5.- Shows a representation of different mechanisms to deter the return of individuals of the foreign species to the outside once the transit has begun.

[0024] Figures 6, 7A, and 7B show a representation of other devices according to the invention. Figure 8 shows a closing device for the device according to the invention. Figure 9 shows a representation of other devices according to the invention.

[0025] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0026] In this description, for brevity, the alien species is exemplified as Vespa Velutina (or simply Velutina). However, the same principle applies to other bee-preying, invasive, or parasite-carrying species. The use of the expression "comprises" or "includes" does not indicate that the device consists solely of the elements indicated, but rather that said elements are part of the device, and other elements not explicitly indicated may also be part of it.

[0027] Although there are size variations depending on the breed of bee, in terms of generally accepted passage dimensions for Western varieties, worker bees cannot pass through a space smaller than 4 mm, which tends to be propolised. The queen bee cannot pass through a space smaller than 4.3 mm (this is the reference size for queen excluders). Worker bees pass through a space of 5 mm, but they lose some of the weight on their legs (this is the reference size for pollen-catching devices). Drones cannot pass through a space smaller than 5.2-5.4 mm (but both workers and queens pass freely). Therefore, the openings of the present invention indicated to allow the passage of members of the hive swarm and prevent the passage of larger individuals of the foreign species are preferably circular holes between 5 and 7 mm in diameter.Although several embodiments are described with 7 mm diameter openings, these could be between 5 and 7 mm, with a preferable range being between 5.5 mm and 6 mm, and in particular 6 mm. When the openings are not circular, light transmission dimensions, a similar or equivalent area, or a minimum dimension should be considered. For example, in the case of polygonal openings, including hexagonal ones, the diameter could be that corresponding to the circle that circumscribes said polygon, without prejudice to applying correction factors based on the anatomy of the species and / or the chosen shape. Alternatively or additionally, in the case of oval, elliptical, or similar openings, said value could correspond to the maximum (e.g., major axis of the ellipse), minimum (e.g., minor axis of the ellipse), average, or similar or equivalent sectional area dimension. Other bee species, such as Asian bees, may require other dimensions (see, for example, WO2021141417 A1).

[0028] Figure 1 shows a general version of the device of the invention (4), installed in the entrance (3) of a beehive (1) by means of screws (not shown) through the hole of the fastening element (18), where the beekeeper has arranged a metal mesh (2) (the representation of the mesh has been omitted to facilitate understanding). Although a mesh has been shown, any closed area that lets light through is in principle suitable for this purpose, surfaces with openings being preferred because they allow ventilation through them. Said metal mesh can be a square mesh of 5-7 mm on each side.

[0029] The device (4) has a width of 100 mm between the outer surface of the entrance unit (5) and the entrance (3). This distance determines the maximum exit speed of the bee to the outside, since it is the space available to accelerate and gain speed. The maximum exit speed is especially relevant, since the higher the speed, the lower the probability that a bee leaving the hive will be captured by a velutina that is stalking the hive, since the latter has to accelerate and overcome its own inertia to intercept it. Alternatively, the device can be manufactured in a more compact version of 50 mm width or even smaller, which maintains the capture effectiveness, but reduces the probability that the exiting bee will not be captured. Higher values ​​(for example 300-400 mm) allow higher exit speeds at the expense of bulky devices, difficult to handle and with greater wind resistance.

[0030] The device (4) has a compact height of 40 mm, taking advantage of the fact that the capture cavity (11-1) is external to the device. The vertical height can be greater (e.g., 300-400 mm) and can even be used to arrange a greater number of entrance sections (5-1; 5-2) or access openings (5-1-1; 5-2-1), for example by stacking rows of entrance sections or openings vertically, to expand the entrance / exit area and thus provide more alternative routes for the bees to avoid the velutinas that lurk in the hive. When the total height of the trap (including the capture cavity provided by the beekeeper in this embodiment) exceeds the size of the brood chamber, its handling becomes considerably difficult.

[0031] The device consists of 26 entrance sections (5-1; 5-2) with 26 access openings (5-1-1; 5-2-1) covering the entire length of the entrance (3) of a Langstroth type hive (although the invention is applicable to any type of hive). However, it has been found that with half the number of openings and covering half the entrance (and covering the rest of the entrance) the performance is acceptable (although lower). In the case of nucleus hives, two or three access sections may be sufficient. The number of sections does not depend solely on the length of the entrance, but also on the dimensions chosen for each entrance section and passage cavity. Of course, entrance sections of different sizes, or with different entrance inclinations, can be combined, taking into account different traffic criteria, the layout of the apiary and the hive environment.As regards the number of access openings per inlet section, it should be noted that a greater number of access openings per inlet section may reduce the effectiveness of the phototaxis attraction (attraction to light) of the openings in the tight passages (7-1-1; 7-1-2; 7-2-1; 7-2-2), which could be detrimental to the capture effectiveness, especially in the case of compact cavities. However, if the height and width of the device and therefore the dimensions of the passage cavities were increased, several access openings per inlet section could be arranged in the lower part of the device, without any appreciable negative effect.

[0032] Each entrance section (5-1; 5-2) consists of an access opening (5-1-1; 5-1-2) whose section is progressively reduced from a 15 mm diameter irregular angle to a 12 mm diameter circular section, allowing the passage through it (9; 10-1) of both velutinas and bees (including the queen bee and drones). This value is merely an example; opening values ​​of up to 10 mm make it difficult for velutinas to maneuver against bees, although both have difficulty passing through them. Larger openings, for example between the wingspan of a bee to the wingspan of the foreign species, facilitate the flying entry of bees while hindering the entry of the foreign species, which loses speed in its pursuit of the first and makes attacks difficult during entry. Values ​​greater than the wingspan of the foreign species facilitate entry into the passage cavity, which can facilitate the capture of velutina.When the latter option is chosen, it is also possible to insert a prefilter slightly larger than the wingspan of the bees between the passage cavities and the interior of the hive, in order to maximize velutina captures while restricting attacks on bees in the passage cavity. However, larger access openings (5-1-1; 5-1-2) also allow more light to enter the passage cavities (6-1; 6-2) from the direction of the corresponding access openings, which decreases the effectiveness of attraction of the passage openings (7-1-1; 7-1-2; 7-2-1; 7-2-2) by phototaxis, especially when the passage cavities are compact. As the passage opening narrows (see section AA in Fig. 2), the alien species first tends to walk through the passage opening until it eventually avoids passing through it when the opening is close to the minimum opening necessary to allow its passage.

[0033] When the velutina has passed through an access opening (5-1-1) until reaching the corresponding passage cavity (6-1), it encounters the entrance through which no light enters, and one or more narrow passage openings (7-1-1; 7-1-2) at the top of the passage cavity. Due to phototaxis, and the velutina's natural tendency to rise, it is attracted to the narrow passage opening which ultimately leads it to a capture cavity (11-1). This effect is increased when the passage cavity (6-1) is large enough for the velutina to fly comfortably. However, it is still present even if it has to climb the walls of the passage cavity. Although in the present figure two narrow passage openings (7-1-1; 7-1-2) have been reproduced per passage cavity (6-1; 6-2), the invention also achieves its effect with just one.Similarly, different passage cavities (6-1; 6-2) may have different numbers of narrow-gauge openings (7-1-1; 7-1-2; 7-2-1; 7-2-2). These narrow-gauge openings were created by transitioning from a 10 mm diameter, discorrectangle-shaped section covering the upper surface of the passage cavity to a 10 mm diameter circular section. This arrangement reduces the reverse passage of velutina from the capture cavity to the passage cavity. It is also possible to make additional, smaller openings through which neither bees nor velutinas enter along this transition from discorrectangle to circular section, in order to reduce reverse passages. These dimensions must be adapted to the size of the alien species to be captured.

[0034] In any case, and despite this attraction, the velutina can sometimes enter the hive. In such a case, when the velutina returns to the passage cavity (6-1) to leave the hive, the passage openings, by phototaxis and because they are higher than the access openings, attract the velutina more, inviting the velutina to transit (10-2) through them, thus ending up in the capture cavity. In order to improve the light contrast between the tight passage openings, the walls of the passage cavity are preferably made of opaque or at most translucent material.

[0035] The device in Figure 1 does not include a filter unit (see reference 8 in Figure 2). Although the absence of such a filter unit might seem a mere limitation, there are reasons why including such filters may not be advisable in certain circumstances. For example, hives can swarm between March and July (even if they have been divided at the beginning of the year). The presence of such filters can hinder the exit of the queen and the swarm, and especially the exit of drones, particularly the larger drones. Therefore, even if the queen were to exit through a filter like the one in Figure 2 (assuming the filter openings are large enough), if the larger drones cannot exit, genetic involution could occur, which is undesirable.When filters are integrated into a trap door, the alternative is to leave the hive without a trap door, which is equally undesirable, since if the velutinas are not captured and return to their nest, a "call effect" occurs, which only increases velutina activity in the vicinity of the hive. During these periods, it is therefore preferable to have protection, which, while limited, is in any case greater than the absence of the device.

[0036] Figure 2 shows another device comprising a single capture cavity (11-1) within the volume of the device common to all the passage openings (7-1-1; 7-1-2; 7-2-1; 7-2-2), a fixed passage filter unit (8) formed in the same piece, with three passage filter sections (8-1; 8-2) with three filtering openings (8-1-1; 8-2-1), and a cleaning and redirection opening (14), indicated for the protection of a small nucleus. The description of the elements common to Figure 1 is not repeated. The capture unit has a plurality of hexagonal openings of 7 mm in diameter (12) that communicate the capture cavity (11-1) with the exterior, arranged on the upper surface and in the upper portion of the front surface, so that it allows the passage to the outside of the members of the swarm (13) and prevents the passage of the foreign species (10-1).These openings can be arranged in a separate part (not shown) so that it can be replaced with another of a different size, adapting the same device to other species, both swarm members and non-swarm members. The walls of the capture unit can be made of transparent material to improve light entry (not a requirement). In fact, it is possible to eliminate these openings when using transparent material, which can improve impermeability (e.g., against rainwater) at the expense of reducing ventilation. The filter openings (8-1-1; 8-1-2) are circular holes 7 mm in diameter (other shapes and sizes are possible, e.g., oval, elliptical, or keyhole-shaped), which offer average discrimination against Vespa velutina. They are aligned with the access openings (5-1-1; 5-1-2), allowing for greater exit speed of the bees.Although a fixed filter is represented, filters can alternatively be made as a single piece or part of a piece that can be detached from the rest and removed or replaced with a different filter. In the latter case, filters of different sizes are available, better adapted to the particular bee species in the hive, as well as to the time of year or swarm pressure (if the beekeeper has good control over each hive and can anticipate swarming, they can use more restrictive filters (up to 5.5-6 mm in diameter with a circular section)). Filters with aligned or offset holes can also be chosen as appropriate. The rear surface includes magnets (not shown) for attachment to a metal plate mounted on the entrance. Regarding dimensions, the device in the figure is 60 mm high, including the capture unit.

[0037] The cleaning and reconduction opening (14) can be used to increase the capacity of the capture cavity (11-1) by adding an adjacent container directly or by means of a reconduction tube (not shown). To facilitate reconduction, it is possible to use an attractant in said container. It is also possible to connect a suction device to it for the removal of carcasses that might perish from starvation in it, or live specimens of velutina.

[0038] Figure 3 shows a device formed by two separate devices: a removable front device (16) and a base device (15). Said devices preferably have a temporary fixing and locking mechanism (20; 21), in a non-limiting manner represented as a protuberance of the base (15) that is subjected to pressure by means of the insertion of the front (16) until it receives a groove in the front (16) at which time the pressure decreases, giving rise to a temporary fixing mechanism with click-type locking in position and giving rise to an assembly that has inlet openings (5-1-1; 5-1-2), passage cavities (6-1; 6-2), adjusted passage openings (7-1-1; 7-1-2) and capture unit (11-1) in a manner analogous to that described with reference to figures 1 and 2. The passage cavities (6-1; 6-2) are independent and are formed after insertion by means of the interaction of the surfaces (23 and 24) of the front (16) and the surfaces (26; 28) of the base (15).The capture unit is also formed by interaction of the surfaces (26; 28; 29; 30) of the base with the surfaces (22; 24) of the front. Although the flow filter unit (7-11; 7-2-1) has been represented as a single piece together with the rest of the elements of the front (16), it is also possible to separate them and provide it with a lateral slot similar to that of the base (slot 20 of the base 16), and insert this independent piece into the protuberance of the temporary fixing and locking mechanism of the entrance accessory (27), after which a front (16) without passage cavities (6-1; 6-2) would be inserted to form the equivalent assembly. It is also possible to install a closing accessory (59) in the temporary fixing and locking mechanism of the entrance accessory (27) to completely cover the entrance with a single click and facilitate transhumance (figure 8).The base device may also have optional holes (31) of reduced size (equal to or less than 7 mm in diameter) to facilitate cleaning tasks for the swarm. These holes may be temporarily covered if convenient. The base device may consist of different fastening elements (18; 34; 25) to fix it to the hive (1), both internal to the volume of the same and external.

[0039] Optionally, when flow filtration is convenient, two removable flow filter modules (17) can be installed in the removable flow filter module installation openings (32-1; 32-2) of said base. By using removable flow filter modules with flow openings of different diameters (e.g. 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5 or 7 mm) it is possible to adapt to different foreign species, different times of the year or different pressure of foreign species. To change the filter module it is not necessary to remove the base device (15) from the hive (1). It is sufficient to remove the front by pulling it, change the filter modules (17) and reinsert the front. The filter modules can have a temporary locking element (17) of the click type (not shown) and can also have a hole for screwing.Optionally, a filter module may also have a tab (38) configured to be inserted into a slot (36) in the base (15) in order to facilitate temporary locking. Naturally, the base device could be arranged with a single removable module installation opening (32-1) such that all of the filter openings are contained therein. In the figure, it has been chosen to represent two openings (32-1; 32-2) in order to allow the connection of the upper (29) and lower (25) surfaces of the base by means of a portion (33) of the rear surface in the central part. This portion provides greater structural integrity to the assembly, especially if it is manufactured in some type of plastic. In such a case, the corresponding filter openings (8-7-1; 8-7-2) can be arranged in said plastic portion, so as not to render the passage through the corresponding inlet section unusable.

[0040] In the example shown, the filtering openings (8-1-1; 8-2-1) were arranged in a non-aligned manner with respect to the access openings (5-1-1; 5-2-1). The non-aligned openings prevent the velutina from detecting a bee's exit in advance. They also disorient the velutina as it enters chasing a bee, which, due to its smaller size, lower inertia, and greater maneuverability, easily reaches the misaligned hole. Meanwhile, the velutina is cornered and approaching the passage opening that will lead it to the capture cavity by phototaxis. However, these advantages come at the cost of slowing the bee's exit speed, thus reducing the likelihood that an outgoing bee will not be captured by a velutina outside the hive. The choice of one configuration or the other depends on the specific application, time of year, environment, and velutina pressure.Since the pass filter modules are removable, it is also possible to alternate between aligned or misaligned filters as required. Although not shown, the base device (15) could have two or more front device receiving cavities by dividing the interior volume of the base device horizontally, such that each receiving cavity is as described above in the figure and the device is formed by inserting several front devices into said base device. This allows for greater structural integrity to the assembly. Figure 4 shows the fully assembled device of Figure 3.

[0041] Figure 5 shows several entry mechanisms to discourage the return of velutinas once they begin their transit towards the passage cavity. The first, which is also represented in the previous figures, consists of progressively reducing the section of each access opening (5-1-1; 5-2-1) between a section of the opening closest to the exterior and a section of the opening closest to the corresponding passage cavity. This mechanism reduces the maneuverability and field of vision of the velutinas, discouraging them from turning around and returning to the outside. Three others (40; 41; 42) have been added to this mechanism by means of an entry accessory (39). However, any of these other three could directly replace the first one, taking its place. Similarly, the entry accessory could have a single additional mechanism for all the openings instead of three different ones, or several entry accessories could be arranged one behind the other.Any combination is possible. The second (40) consists of arranging inclined sheets, preferably at about 30-45 degrees of inclination with respect to the horizontal, like a blind that limits the amount of incoming light into the passage cavities through the access opening. The third (41) is a variation of the previous one using sheets with a curved section, which allow better control of the amount of incoming light and can force the individual of a foreign species to move vertically while advancing horizontally towards the passage cavity. The fourth (42) consists of horizontally delimiting the openings, by means of vertical walls (which in the figure are separated by 30 mm, enough for the bees to fly through, but limiting for larger species), which makes entry / exit difficult.Furthermore, the fourth mechanism can be combined with the second or third in a single section, vertically dividing the inclined or curved sheets at the desired distance.

[0042] Figure 6 shows on the left a elevation and plan of a device with two access openings (5-1-1; 5-1-2) for each passage cavity (6-1) and adjusted passage opening (7-1-1), and on the right a elevation and plan of a device with one access opening (5-1-1) for each passage cavity (6-1) and passage opening (7-1-1), with the access openings arranged at different heights.

[0043] Figure 7A shows a device according to the invention that integrates an additional accessory (44). The front device (16) is identical to that of Figure 3. The intermediate filtering device (43) is a filter module for an additional accessory with the same openings as the filter modules (17) and is configured to be inserted before said additional accessory so that the foreign species does not reach the additional accessory. Said device (43) is optional and only necessary if the additional accessory (44) requires it. Its positioning and alignment can be facilitated by protuberances (51; 55) that are inserted into specially adapted slots (50; 54). Said fastening elements are optional, and the filter and the accessory can be fixed to the front device (16), so that the entire assembly is inserted as if it were a single piece in the modified base device (15').The modified base device (15') is a modification of the device (15) of Figure 3, wider (100 mm compared to 50 mm of the former) to accommodate the additional accessory (44), and comprises all the elements of the base device (15), adding a unit of lower openings (47), sized to not let members of the hive swarm (1) pass through and insertion slots (48) adapted to receive an L-shaped tab (49) of a lower accessory device (45), such that said tab is inserted through the wider section of the insertion slot (48) and slides towards the narrower section, and the lower accessory (45) is temporarily fixed to the modified base device (15). Both the lower accessory device (45), the slots (48) and the lower openings unit (47) are optional (according to the needs of the additional accessory).The additional accessory (44) may have a temporary securing and locking mechanism for the entrance fitting (52) equal to the temporary securing and locking mechanism (20) adapted to be temporarily secured to the temporary securing and locking mechanism for the entrance fitting (27). Said mechanism (52) is optional, given that the entrance fitting may be secured to the front accessory (16), optionally via the filtering module for the additional accessory (55), such that the entire assembly is inserted as a single piece, which is temporarily locked by means of the securing and locking mechanism provided in the front device (16; 20) and the modified base (15'; 21). If the base includes the fastening slots (48), and if their opening is sufficient to allow the passage of members of the swarm through them, the additional accessory (44) must have elements to prevent said passage (56).The additional accessory (44) may be of the type of any prior art entrance accessory, which can no longer be used when its place is taken by a device for capturing foreign species, such as those described in the present description and the appended claims. In figure 7A an additional accessory is shown for collecting pollen (44) by filtering members of the swarm through openings (53) small enough, in the example circular holes of 5 mm in diameter, to prevent the passage of worker bees together with the pollen collected on their hind legs, which is released when attempting to transit through said openings, as well as a pollen collection container (45). Said container (45) has been shown very reduced (with a capacity for approximately 200 g of pollen of a density of 0.6 kg / l) to allow the correct representation of the whole.Said pollen collection container (45) may comprise ventilation openings (46). The pollen released when attempting to transit passes through the lower openings unit (47) to the container (45). Figure 7B shows an alternative pollen catcher accessory, where the support (62) of the openings (53) is provided with a rotation axis (69) that rotates when the control (64) is rotated, resting on the bearing (65), both inserted through openings in the base (66, and its symmetrical on the opposite side, not shown) and the openings of the accessory (70 and its symmetrical on the opposite side, not shown), which allows the pollen catcher accessory to be activated and deactivated from the outside. The accessory has separators (63) that reduce the number of pollen catcher openings accessible from an input section. The support (62) can be generated within the accessory (44) during the additive manufacturing of the assembly (e.g.SLA or similar) or inserted when printing the accessory 44 by FDM 3D printing by pausing the print. Alternatively, the accessory (44) may have a slot in its upper part (not shown) to insert it. The blocking surface (68) allows the openings (31) to be closed in operation in order to prevent access to the interior without passing through the accessory. The insertion direction of the accessory can be reversed (blocking by 52' instead of 52 and using 67 instead of 66 to receive 65 and 64) by deactivating the device so that said openings (31) remain open.

[0044] In another embodiment that has not been shown, the additional accessory (44) is a mechanical dewormer for swarm members, which consists of a soft bristle brush arranged in the transit section of the swarm members to the interior of the hive (instead of the holes 53 of the additional accessory 44), such that said members are brushed by the bristles, releasing said parasites, such as varroa. Said parasites pass through the lower openings (47), and can fall to the ground, or be collected in the container (45) if it is present, which allows the visual diagnosis of the presence of varroa.

[0045] In yet another embodiment not shown, the additional accessory (44) may comprise, instead of the holes 53, a surface adapted to place medication (e.g., varroa treatment) or food on it. In the case of a varroa treatment, the varroa may be released by the action of the medication and may pass through the lower openings (47) into the container 45 for diagnosis.

[0046] In yet another embodiment not shown, the additional accessory (44) may comprise, instead of the holes (53), a heat treatment accessory. Said accessory may have passage cavities within the accessory similar to the passage cavities (6-1; 6-2; 6-3), and may have electric heating elements, which may be powered internally by batteries, or externally, for example by connection to the electrical grid or to a solar panel. In addition, it has a thermostat configured to maintain the temperature of said passage cavities at 38-40°C. Said temperatures cause the varroa to detach from its host. The treatment periods may be controlled remotely by a remote activation switch that controls the power supply, or by a microcontroller.

[0047] In yet another embodiment not shown, the additional accessory (44) may comprise, instead of the holes (53), an accessory for monitoring and diagnosing the entrance based on information from sensors, such as infrared detection sensors, acoustic sensors, cameras, infrared cameras. When the members of the swarm pass through the additional accessory, an infrared sensor is capable of detecting the passage. Said information can be sent to a microcontroller to monitor the activity of the hive, for example the number of transits. Alternatively, a conventional or infrared camera can be provided, which can be used to detect the presence of diseases or varroa. The images can be sent to a processor that, by means of pattern detection, or by means of artificial intelligence previously trained with images of said diseases / parasites, detects their presence.This information can be processed in the hive itself (for example, to activate another accessory, as described below) and / or for remote transmission to a central management system or to generate alerts to a mobile device.

[0048] In yet another embodiment not shown, instead of a single additional accessory, an accessory unit with several accessories can be provided, such that the swarm members are initially monitored by a first device, and then another function is performed later. This function can be independent of monitoring (e.g., pollen collection) or dependent on the monitoring result. For example, if a first diagnostic device detects the presence of varroa mites, a second accessory could close off the passage to the interior of the hive for that cavity (e.g., with a motor-driven mechanism such as that described in KR102078214B1). Additionally, said individual could be retained in a heat treatment or medication application accessory for deworming.

[0049] Figure 8 shows a closure accessory (59) with a fixing mechanism (52') adapted to fix the closure to the fixing and locking element (27) of the base device (15). It has additional fixing elements (2), using screws, for greater security. In addition, it has slots (4) to insert a rope and pull it to uninstall it. Figure 9 shows a device with five passage cavities (6-1; 6-2; 6-3; 6-4; 6-5) and three capture cavities (11-1; 11-2; 11-3) internally delimited by two capture cavity separating elements (60; 61), where one forms part of the base device and another of the front device. The passage openings (7-1; 7-2) lead to the capture cavity (11-1), the passage opening (7-3) to the capture cavity (11-2) and the passage openings (7-4; 7-5) to the capture cavity (11-3).This configuration prevents the passage of foreign specimens and swarm members through the capture unit. This may be desirable, for example, if the brood chamber is internally divided (e.g., because it contains multiple queens), or if an inlet section (e.g., the one corresponding to passage cavity 6-3) is dedicated to a specific function that requires it (e.g., the evaluation of the effectiveness of different attractant liquids). This inlet section could have a conduit and cleaning opening at the top of the corresponding capture cavity (11-2), which is not shown. However, dividing the capture unit into multiple capture cavities increases the maintenance and cleaning effort. For flexibility, the separating surfaces (60; 61) can be removable. The internal cross-section of the inlet openings (5-1-1; 5-2-1) is elliptical.The device covers part of the length of the entrance, so that two or more devices can be arranged along it (for example, if the hive population is very high).

[0050] The device of the present invention can be manufactured in various materials, for example, sheet metal, wood or plastic and by plastic injection methods, subtractive or additive manufacturing, such as milling or three-dimensional printing, using technologies such as FDM (fused deposition modeling), SLA (stereolithography), DMP (direct metal printing), DMLS (direct metal laser synthesis) or any other known in the art, in thermoplastic materials, ceramics, metal or others. For example, the device (4) of Figure 1 or the base devices (15, 15'), front (16), as well as others represented in Figures (17, 39, 43, 44, 45), can be manufactured by 3D printing, together or individually.3D printing can be done by slicing a three-dimensional model of the object to be printed using appropriate software, such as PrusaSlicer, producing a file, such as G-Code, that constitutes a digital model of the object, along with the instructions to be executed by the 3D printer to manufacture it. This file can be stored on any known computer-readable storage medium (USB stick, hard drive, memory stick, etc.).

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Device (4) to facilitate the capture of individuals of a species foreign to the swarm of a hive that are attracted by light, said device configured to be located in the entrance (3) of a hive (1), such that the transit (9) of members of the swarm of the hive between the hive and the outside is carried out through said device, which comprises: - an entrance unit (5) exposed to the exterior, said entrance unit comprising two or more independent entrance sections (5-1; 5-2), where each of said entrance sections comprises one or more access openings (5-1-1; 5-1-2; 5-2-1; 5-2-2), each access opening adapted to allow the transit, both of members of the hive swarm (9) and of individuals of the foreign species (10-1), between the device and the exterior; - a passage cavity unit (6) comprising as many independent passage cavities (6-1; 6-2) as independent entrance sections (5-1; 5-2), where each of the passage cavities corresponds only to a corresponding entrance section, each passage cavity arranged such that all the access openings of the corresponding entrance section lead only to said passage cavity and open on one of its surfaces to allow, directly or indirectly, the transit of members of the swarm into the hive (9), where one or more separation surfaces separate each passage cavity from adjacent passage cavities and are configured to prevent the transit of individuals of the foreign species; - a passage unit (7), comprising as many passage sections (7-1; 7-2) as passage cavities (6-1; 6-2), where each of the passage sections corresponds only to one corresponding passage cavity, each passage section (7-1; 7-2) formed by one or more passage openings (7-1-1; 7-1-2; 7-2-1; 7-2-2); - a capture unit for individuals of a foreign species (11), comprising one or more capture cavities (11-1; 11-2; 11-3), said capture unit arranged in the upper part of the device and configured to allow the entry of light from the outside to the capture cavity or cavities and to prevent the exit of individuals of the foreign species to the outside from said capture cavity or cavities; where each of said tight passage sections is arranged in the upper part of the corresponding passage cavity and in the lower part of the capture unit, so as to allow the entry of light from a capture cavity associated with the corresponding passage cavity through the tight passage opening(s) of said tight passage section, and is configured to allow the transit (10-1; 10-2) of individuals of the foreign species through said tight passage opening(s) of said section of tight passage from the passage cavity corresponding to said associated capture cavity, and where tight passage openings of two or more tight passage sections (7-1-1; 7-1-2; 7-2-1; 7-2-2) lead to the same capture cavity (11-1).

2. Removable front device (16), configured to be inserted into a base device (15; 15'), such that, once inserted, the assembly forms a device to facilitate the capture of individuals of a species foreign to the swarm of a hive that are attracted by light, configured to be located in the entrance (3) of a hive (1), such that the transit (9) of members of the swarm of the hive between the hive and the outside is carried out through said removable front device (16), where the removable front device comprises: - a front surface (22), an intermediate surface (24), and one or more separating surfaces (23); - an entrance unit (5) exposed to the outside, said entrance unit comprising two or more independent entrance sections (5-1; 5-2), where each of said entrance sections comprises one or more access openings (5-1-1;5-2-1), each access opening adapted to allow the transit, both of members of the hive swarm (9) and of individuals of the foreign species (10-1), between the removable front device (16) and the outside, where the entrance unit is arranged so that the access openings are located in the lower part of the front surface (22), where the number of separation surfaces (23) is equal to the number of independent entrance sections minus one, where each of the separation surfaces (23) is arranged behind the entrance unit (5) in the delimitation between two adjacent entrance sections (5-1, 5-2) and where the intermediate surface (24) covers said separation surfaces (23) on their upper part, so that when the removable front device is inserted into the base device, a unit of passage cavities (6) is formed, where the unit of passage cavities (6) comprises as many passage cavities (6-1;6-2) independent as independent entrance sections (5-1; 5-2), where each of the passage cavities corresponds only to a corresponding entrance section, where each passage cavity is arranged such that all access openings of the corresponding entrance section lead only to said passage cavity, and is open on its rear surface to allow, in operation, directly or indirectly, the transit of members of the swarm into the hive (9), where said separation surfaces (23) separate each passage cavity from adjacent passage cavities and are configured to prevent the transit of individuals of the foreign species; and; - a pitch unit (7), comprising as many pitch sections (7- 1; 7-2) as passage cavities (6-1; 6-2), where each of the tight passage sections corresponds only to one corresponding passage cavity, each tight passage section (7-1; 7-2) formed by one or more tight passage openings (7-1-1; 7-1-2; 7-2-1; 7-2-2); where, when the removable front device is inserted into the base device, a capture unit for individuals of a foreign species (11) is formed, comprising one or more capture cavities (11-1; 11-2; 11-3), the capture cavity or cavities being delimited at their lower part by the intermediate surface (24), said capture unit configured to allow the entry of light from the outside into the capture cavity or cavities, and to prevent the exit of individuals of the foreign species to the outside from said capture cavity or cavities;where each of said tight passage sections is arranged in a portion of the intermediate surface (24) located in the upper part of the corresponding passage cavity and in the lower part of the capture unit, so as to allow the entry of light from a capture cavity associated with the corresponding passage cavity through one or more tight passage openings of said tight passage section, and is configured to allow the transit (10-1; 10-2) of individuals of the foreign species through said one or more tight passage openings of said tight passage section from the passage cavity corresponding to said associated capture cavity, and where tight passage openings of two or more tight passage sections (7-1-1; 7-1-2; 7-2-1; 7-2-2) lead to the same capture cavity (11-1).; 3. Base device (15), configured to receive by insertion one or more removable front devices (16) according to claim 2, such that after insertion, the assembly forms a device to facilitate the capture of individuals of a species foreign to the swarm of a hive that are attracted by the light, configured to be located in the entrance (3) of a hive (1), such that the transit (9) of members of the swarm of the hive between the hive and the outside is carried out through said base device (15), where the base device comprises: - one or more front device receiving units, each comprising a corresponding receiving cavity configured to receive in its internal volume a removable front device (16) according to claim 2 by insertion through a front section of said receiving cavity, where each front device receiving unit comprises a rear surface (30), two side surfaces (26, 28), a lower surface (25) and an upper surface (29), said side surfaces (26, 28), lower (25) and upper (29) configured to prevent the transit of individuals of the foreign species to the outside through them, and said rear (30), side surfaces (26, 28), lower (25) and upper (29) surfaces delimiting the corresponding receiving cavity, where the surface upper (29) is additionally configured to allow the entry of light from the outside into one or more capture cavities (11-1, 11-2, 11-3) of a capture unit (11), and where the rear surface (30) comprises one or more installation openings of pass filter module (32-1; 32-2); where when the removable front device is inserted into the corresponding receiving cavity: - the lower surface (25) is additionally configured to receive one or more separation surfaces (23) of the removable front device (16), so as to form a passage cavity unit (6), where the passage cavity unit (6) comprises as many independent passage cavities (6-1; 6-2) as independent entrance sections (5-1; 5-2) of an entrance unit (5) of the removable front device (16), where the number of passage cavities is greater than or equal to two, and where each passage cavity is open on its rear surface to allow, directly or indirectly, the transit of members of the swarm from the outside through an entrance section corresponding to the interior of the hive (9), - the side surfaces (26, 28) are configured to receive an intermediate surface (24) of the removable front device (16), such that said volume is divided into a lower volume comprising the input unit (5) of the removable front device (16) and the passage cavity unit (6), and an upper volume comprising the unit for capturing individuals of a foreign species (11), - the upper surface (29) delimits said upper volume covering said capture unit of individuals of foreign species (11), and - said side and upper surfaces receive said removable front device (16), wherein said intermediate surface (24) of the removable front device (16) comprises a tight passage unit (7), comprising as many tight passage sections (7-1; 7-2) as passage cavities (6-1; 6-2), where each of the tight passage sections corresponds only to a corresponding passage cavity, each tight passage section (7-1; 7-2) formed by one or more tight passage openings (7-1-1; 7-1-2; 7-2-1; 7-2-2) and arranged on a portion of said intermediate surface located in the upper part of the corresponding passage cavity and in the lower part of the capture unit, so that one or more capture cavities (11-1; 11-2; 11-3) are formed.11-3), so that it allows the entry of light from a capture cavity associated with the corresponding passage cavity through the adjusted passage opening(s) of said adjusted passage section and so that the adjusted passage openings of two or more adjusted passage sections lead to the same capture cavity (11-1), where each of said adjusted passage sections is configured to allow the transit (10-1; 10-2) of individuals of the foreign species through the adjusted passage opening(s) of said; section from the corresponding passage cavity through the intermediate surface to the associated capture cavity (11-1; 11-2).

4. Device (15, 16) for facilitating the capture of individuals of a species foreign to the swarm of a hive that are attracted by light, said device configured to be located in the entrance (3) of a hive (1), such that the transit (9) of members of the swarm of the hive between the hive and the outside is carried out through said device, which comprises a removable front device (16) according to claim 2 inserted in a base device (15) according to claim 3 and, wherein, preferably, said base device and said front device are provided with a temporary fixing and locking mechanism (20, 21) to fix the removable front device (16) to the base device.

5. Device (4) according to claims 1-4, where the unit for capturing individuals of a foreign species has light entry openings (12) to allow light to enter the capture cavity(ies), where, preferably, said light entry openings (12) are additionally configured to allow members of the hive swarm (13) to exit the hive and prevent individuals of the foreign species (10-1) from exiting.

6. Device (4) according to claims 1-5, wherein the capture unit comprises a single capture cavity and all the tight passage openings of all the tight passage sections lead to said capture cavity.

7. Device (4) according to claims 1-6, wherein the passage cavities (6-1; 6-2) are sized based on a wingspan of the individuals of the foreign species and / or the members of the swarm, preferably, such that the individuals of the foreign species have their transit hindered when flying, while the members of the swarm can fly through them without being substantially affected.

8. Device (4) according to any of the preceding claims, additionally comprising: a passage filter unit (8), comprising as many independent passage filter sections (8-1; 8-2) as passage cavities, where each passage filter section corresponds to a passage cavity (6-1; 6-2) and communicates only with the corresponding passage cavity, each passage filter section (8-1; 8-2) arranged such that said transit (9) between the corresponding passage cavity and the interior of the hive is carried out through the open surface of the corresponding passage cavity and the corresponding passage filter section, each of said passage filter sections (8-1; 8-2) comprising one or more filtering openings (8-1-1; 8-2-1), said filtering openings being configured to allow the transit of swarm members directly or indirectly into the hive (9) and not allow the passage of individuals of the foreign species, preferably said passage filter unit (8) being at least partly removable, and optionally the filtering openings being aligned or misaligned with respect to the access openings; when the device is according to claim 3, said passage filter unit (8) being at least partly removable, and the device comprising as many removable passage filter modules (17) as passage filter module installation openings (32-1; 32-2), said passage filter unit (8) comprising said removable passage filter module(s) (17);and where, when the device is according to claim 2, said flow filter unit (8) is connected, temporarily or permanently, to the flow cavity unit (6).; 9. Device (4) according to any of claims 1, 2, 4-8, wherein each access opening (5-1-1; 5-2-1) has one or more mechanisms to discourage the return of individuals of the foreign species to the outside once they have begun to transit towards the corresponding passage cavity (6-1; 6-2), where optionally the mechanism or mechanisms used by each access opening are different from other openings, and where optionally the mechanism or mechanisms comprise one or more of the following: a) the section of each access opening (5-1-1; 5-2-1) is progressively reduced between a section of the opening closest to the outside and a section of the opening closest to the corresponding passage cavity, b) each access opening (5-1-1;5-2-1) is delimited vertically by inclined surfaces (40) or curved surfaces (41) between a section of the opening closest to the outside and a section of the opening closest to the corresponding passage cavity, so that the amount of light entering the passage cavity through the access opening is reduced, or c) each access opening (5-1-1; 5-2-1) is delimited horizontally (42) so as to hinder or prevent the passage of the foreign species flying, for example, by means of a rectangular mesh with a side dimension less than the wingspan of individuals of the foreign species.; 10. Device (4) according to any of claims 1, 2, 4-9, wherein the section of each adjusted passage opening (7-1-1; 7-1-2; 7-2-1; 7-2-2) is progressively reduced between the passage cavity (6-1; 6-2) and the corresponding capture cavity (11-1; 11-2).

11. Device (4) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the capture cavities (11-1; 11-2; 11-3) has one or more cleaning openings. and reconduction of individuals of foreign species (14), said cleaning and reconduction openings adapted to receive one of the following: a) a section of an external container where an inlet opening to said external container is located, for example, a neck of a plastic bottle; b) a tube for reconduction of individuals of foreign species towards an external container; c) an inlet of a suction device for cleaning the capture cavity by suction; or d) a blocking element to prevent the escape of individuals of foreign species when said cleaning and reconduction opening is not in use, such as a plug.

12. Device (4) according to any of claims 1, 2, 4-11, wherein the device additionally comprises a flow prefilter unit, comprising as many independent flow prefilter sections as flow cavities, where each flow prefilter section corresponds to a flow cavity (6-l;6-2) and communicates only with the corresponding passage cavity, each passage prefilter section arranged such that said transit (9) between the corresponding passage cavity and the interior of the hive is carried out through the open surface of the corresponding passage cavity and the corresponding passage prefilter section, each of said passage prefilter sections comprising one or more prefilter openings, where said prefilter openings are configured to allow the transit of members of the swarm flying with their wings fully extended, and to allow the passage of individuals of the foreign species but not allow them to fly with their wings fully extended, where preferably said passage prefilter unit is, at least in part, removable, and where, alternatively, the prefilter openings are aligned or misaligned with respect to the access openings;where, when the device is according to claim 8, said passage prefilter unit is interposed between the passage cavity unit (6) and the passage filter unit (8).; 13. Device (4) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device additionally comprises an entrance accessory unit between the entrance unit (5) and the interior of the hive, said entrance accessory unit comprising one or more additional entrance accessories (44), where optionally, the entrance accessory unit comprises one or more of the following: a) an accessory for capturing pollen, b) a mechanical dewormer of members of the hive swarm, c) an accessory for administering medication, d) an accessory for administering food, e) a heat treatment accessory, and f) an entrance monitoring and diagnostic accessory, preferably based on information from sensors, such as cameras, infrared cameras and sensors. acoustic and remote transmission of said information, or alerts generated based on said information; and where, optionally, the device comprises an intermediate filtering device (43) comprising one or more intermediate filtering openings, where said intermediate filtering openings are configured to allow the passage of members of the swarm to the additional entrance accessory unit, and not allow the passage of individuals of the foreign species.

14. Device (4) according to claim 13, wherein the device comprises one or more lower openings (47) configured to prevent the passage of swarm members and allow the passage of matter released from the swarm members of the hive to the outside of the device, such as pollen or varroa specimens, and wherein the device preferably comprises a temporary fixing and locking mechanism (48) for the temporary fixing of a container for the collection of said matter, and when depending on claim 3, wherein said lower openings (47) are arranged on the lower surface (25) of the base device (15).

15. Device (4) according to any of claims 13 or 14, wherein the device comprises a first part comprising the inlet unit (5), and a second part comprising the passage cavity unit (6), where the additional nozzle accessory (44) is configured to be temporarily assembled to the first and / or the second part, so that it can be arranged between the inlet unit (5) and the passage cavity unit (6), or after the passage cavity unit, the first, second part and the nozzle accessory (44) forming a single assembly once assembled.

16. Device (4) according to any of claims 1, 3-15, wherein the device additionally comprises a mechanism for temporarily fixing and locking the entrance accessory unit (27), preferably configured to temporarily fix an accessory to the entrance of the entrance of the hive (1), where optionally the accessory is a closing accessory (59) configured to prevent the swarm from leaving the hive, and when depending on any of claims 13-15, alternatively, to temporarily fix and lock the entrance accessory unit.

17. A computer-readable storage medium that stores data defining both a digital representation of an object and instructions adapted to control an additive manufacturing device, in order to manufacture said object using the digital representation, when said data is sent to the additive manufacturing device.

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