Register for free to
view the full innovation profile.
We propose to estimate a honeybee colony varroa infestation levels by monitoring the vibrations that fallen mites generate when they walk on the hive's "bottom board".
About
We have shown that varroa mites deliver vibrations into the solid substrate they (sometimes) reside on. In spite of their weight (0.5 mg) being 20000 times lower than that of our sensor (10g), we can pick up these vibrational wave forms, provided the highest sensitivity of accelerometers is used.
When the varroa is static on the substrate, it commonly delivers frequent ultra strong, ultra short vibrational pulses.
When the varroa walks on the substrate, it also generates a time series of vibrational pulses that we can pick up. We have shown that other invertebrates' gait also provide vibrational pulses, however with a time series different from that of varroa, and we can train a computer to discriminate them.
Although these vibrations can be detected on honeycomb, on which the varroa occasionally resides, the vibrations generated by honeybees living on the same substrate dominate the overall collected signal.
We propose to secure an appropriate accelerometer on the 'bottom board', or 'varroa board' of a honeybee hive, to indirectly detect varroa infestation levels.
Different debris and invertebrates will end up on the board, and we will pick this up, but many varroa will also fall on it, and will pulse the board when they are static, and when they walk. With appropriate computer training, we propose that we will be able to discriminate the signal originating from varroa on the board, and that we will estimate their numbers.
It might be possible to estimate the 'load' of the debris on the board by driving a tiny artificial stimulus in the board and assessing its vibrational modes.
The innovation has been partially demonstrated in the laboratory, we need to trial it in the field.
Key Benefits
- The method provides a measurement taken outside of the colony, all the equipment is residing underneath the colony.
- The method has the potential to estimate the presence of other invertebrates of interest.
- The method has the potential to estimate the need, or not, to clean the board.
- The method relies on the use of a single, ultra-simple sensor.
- The method has the potential to provide a signature of colony activity as it will likely pick up the overall vibrational signal generated by the bees themselves.
Applications
Governmental bodies responsible for monitoring varroa infestation levels.
Professional beekeepers requiring knowledge for the need for varroa treatment.
Amateur beekeepers with a keen interest to keep an eye on their colonies' welfare.