METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR THE PROPHYLAXIS AND TREATMENT OF COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER

• US 20140212520A1
• Filed: 03/14/2012
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Healthy Bees, LLC
• Original Assignee: BEESFREE, Inc.
• Inventors: Del Vecchio, Francesca
• Granted Patent: US 9,981,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/744
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 51/00 Appliances for treating beehives or parts thereof, e.g. for cleaning or disinfecting
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 53/00 Feeding or drinking appliances for bees
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/10 Organic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/105 Aliphatic or alicyclic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/147 Polymeric derivatives, e.g. peptides or proteins
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/163 Sugars; Polysaccharides
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/90 for insects, e.g. bees or silkworms
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/185 Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons)
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/53 Lamiaceae or Labiatae (Mint family), e.g. thyme, rosemary or lavender
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/88 Liliopsida (monocotyledons)
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/886 Aloeaceae (Aloe family), e.g. aloe vera
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/02 Nutrients, e.g. vitamins, minerals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/10 Antimycotics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/12 Antivirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 33/14 Ectoparasiticides, e.g. scabicides
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 39/06 Free radical scavengers or antioxidants
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/00 Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries

Abstract

This invention concerns a method for preventing and treating Colony Collapse Disorder, consisting in the use of an automated device that delivers a diet specifically calibrated for consumption by farm colonies of bees to be treated. The apparatus comprises a box-like container (10) accommodating in its interior at least one reservoir for liquid-tight, accessible from outside through a nozzle (4), an atomizing device of a liquid solution or suspension contained in the reservoir, means for the delivery (2, 1) of the liquid atomized solution or suspension into micrometric drops outside the apparatus, and a control unit programmed for timing the delivery of the solution or suspension to the outside, for the determination of the quantity of solution or suspension delivered and for emitting alarm signals in case of malfunction, the apparatus being powered DC with the energy supplied by a solar panel (5) located outside of the container.

The liquid solution or suspension comprises tonic and nutrient ingredients, mainly consisting of milk powder, sugars and lower organic acids, antioxidant and antiseptic ingredients contained in plant extracts and healing ingredients to bees, such as essential oils of thyme and oxalic acid.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A method for prevention and treatment of the Colony Collapse Disease (CCD) by administering nutrients and therapeutic to bee colonies to be treated, comprising delivering a liquid solution or suspension in a form of spray, the liquid solution or suspension comprising:

a) a nutrition composition, comprising;

a sugar, a lower organic acid, and one of milk powder, yeasts, or a mixture of milk powder and yeast;

b) a natural antioxidant and antiseptic composition, comprising extract of at least one plant selected from the group consisting of Crocus sativus, Pelargonium graveolens, Monarda citriodora, Myristica fragrans, Origanum vulgare and Origanum majorana;

and

c) a medicinal composition for bees, comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of thymol, oxalic acid, extracts of Thymus vulgaris, extracts of Aloe arborescens, and extracts of Beta vulgaris cv. altissima.

17. The method for prevention and treatment according to claim 16, wherein said nutrition composition comprises milk powder, acetic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and one selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose and a mixture of glucose and fructose.

18. The method for prevention and treatment according to claim 17, wherein said nutrition composition further comprises glycerin.

19. The method for prevention and treatment according to claim 16, wherein said liquid solution or suspension comprises at least two selected from the group consisting of Crocus sativus extract;

Pelargonium graveolens extract;

Myristica fragrans extract;

Origanum vulgare extract and Origanum majorana extract.

20. The method for prevention and treatment according to claim 19, wherein said liquid solution or suspension further comprises extract of Monarda citriodora.

21. The method for prevention and treatment according to claim 16, wherein said medicinal composition for bees comprises extracts of Thymus vulgaris, extracts of Aloe arborescens and oxalic acid.

22. The method for prevention and treatment according to claim 21, wherein said medicinal composition for bees further comprises extract of Beta vulgaris cv. altissima.

23. A liquid solution or suspension for prevention and treatment of the Colony Collapse Disease (CCD), comprising:

a) a nutrition composition, comprising;

a sugar, a lower organic acid, and at least one of milk powder, yeasts, or a mixture of milk powder and yeast;

b) a natural antioxidant and antiseptic composition, comprising extract of at least one plant selected from the group consisting of Crocus sativus, Pelargonium graveolens, Monarda citriodora, Myristica fragrans, Origanum vulgare and Origanum majorana;

and

c) a medicinal composition for bees, comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of thymol, oxalic acid, extracts of Thymus vulgaris, extracts of Aloe arborescens, and extracts of Beta vulgaris cv. altissima.

24. The liquid solution or suspension according to claim 23, wherein said nutrition composition comprises milk powder, acetic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and one selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose and a mixture of glucose and fructose.

25. The liquid solution or suspension according to claim 24, wherein said nutrition composition further comprises glycerin.

26. The liquid solution or suspension according to claim 23, further comprises at least two aromatic or medicinal plant extracts selected from the group consisting of Crocus sativus extract;

Pelargonium graveolens extract;

Myristica fragrans extract;

Origanum vulgare extract and Origanum majorana extract.

27. The liquid solution or suspension according to claim 26, further comprising extract of Monarda citriodora.

28. The liquid solution or suspension according to claim 23, wherein said medicinal composition for bees comprises extracts of Thymus vulgaris, extracts of Aloe arborescens and oxalic acid.

29. The liquid solution or suspension according to claim 28, wherein said medicinal composition for bees further comprises extract of Beta vulgaris cv. altissima.

30. An automated apparatus for prevention and treatment of the Colony Collapse Disease (CCD) by administering nutrients, therapeutic or a mixture thereof to bee colonies to be treated, comprising:

a container of a material resistant to atmospheric agents;

a first reservoir accommodated in the container and accessible from the outside through a first nozzle, configured to store a liquid solution or suspension of the nutrients, therapeutic or the mixture thereof;

a stirrer arranged inside the first reservoir;

a nebulizer to nebulize the liquid solution or suspension in the first reservoir;

a delivery system to deliver the liquid solution or suspension outside the automated apparatus in micrometric drops;

a control unit programmed to control a timing of the delivery of the solution or suspension to the outside, an amount of the solution or suspension delivered and alarm signals emitting in case of malfunctions of the apparatus or reduction of the solution or suspension in the first reservoir below a predetermined level; and

a solar panel located outside the container, wherein the solar panel is electrically connected to the control unit and provides power to the apparatus.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the delivery system further comprises a chamber accessible to bees.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the delivery system further comprises a telescopic tube extendable in length, arranged between the container and the chamber accessible to bees.

33. The apparatus according to claims 30, further comprising a second reservoir arranged inside the container,

wherein the second reservoir has a smaller holding volume than the first reservoir,

wherein the second reservoir is in communication with the first reservoir, and

wherein the second reservoir is accessible from the outside through a second nozzle different from the first nozzle.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein an external side of the container is colored in at least one color selected from the group consisting of violet, blue, red and green.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the container is made of wood of seasoned spruce.

36. An apparatus according to claims 30, further comprising one or more sensors located within the first reservoir,

wherein the one or more sensors are temperature sensors, pH sensors, or a mixture of temperature sensors and pH sensors;

and

wherein the control unit is programmed to monitor the detected temperature, pH or both temperature and pH values and to emit alarm signals in the case at least one of the detected temperature and pH values goes beyond a preset limit.

37. The apparatus according to claims 30, further comprising four wheels placed at the bottom of the container and one or more handles.