Upload
leonardo-merlo
View
242
Download
2
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
em ingles
Citation preview
WarrTreeHiveWarrBaumbeute
Copyright(C)2008BernhardHeuvel
DiesesWerkkanndurchjedermanngemdenBestimmungenderifrOSSLizenzfrFreieInhaltegenutztwerden.
Die Lizenzbedingungen knnen unter http://www.ifross.de/Lizenzen/LizenzFuerFreieInhalte.htmlabgerufenwerden.
EinleitungWarumdieWarrBaumbeute?!
NachderLektrevonIanRumsey'sTextenzurZellundBrutnestorientierung(sieheTexteimAnhang),sowiederenAuswirkungenaufdieVarroa,wollteichdessenErkenntnisseindieWarrbeuteeinfliessenlassen.NachmeinenVerstndnisderTextevonIanRumseylassensichdieErkenntnissewiefolgtzusammenfassen.DieAusrichtungundFormdesBrutnesteshatAuswirkungenaufdieVermehrungderVarroamilbe.DieMilbeschlpftvoneinerZellezurnchsten.DerWegdurchdasBrutnestistineinerKugelformfrdieMilbeamkrzesten.SokannsiesichrelativschnellvoneinemEndedesBrutnesteszumanderenausbreiten,ohneinGefahrzulaufen,vondenBienenentdecktundgettetzuwerden.DiefrdieMilbeungnstigsteBrutnestformistdielanggestreckteFormdesBrutnestes.HiermussdieMilbedenweitestenWegzurcklegen,umsichimgesamtenBrutnestauszubreiten.DerverlngerteWegvergrertauchdieGefahr,dassdieBienendieMilbenaufdiesemlangenWegentdeckenundtten.AuerdemverndertsichdieWahrnehmungderMilbe,wasdieVerfgbarkeitundGredesBrutnestesbetrifft.
DieZellorientierunghingegenverschlechtert die Vermehrungschancender Milbein denZellen,weilderRaumberhalbderBienenmadeverengtistundzumZerdrckenderMilbedurchdieMadefhrenkann.
FreineAusfhrungderobengenanntenErkenntnissebitteich,dieimAnhangbefindlichenTextevonRumseyimOriginalzulesen.
BeideErkenntnissesindjedochinteressantgenug,umhiereinenVersuchzustartenundeineBeuteaufGrundlagederWarrbeutezuentwickeln,diediesenErkenntnissengerechtwird.
Wichtig:DieseBeuteistgeradeerstausgedachtunderbautworden.BezglichderFunktionalittundPraktikabilittisteszurZeitnichtmglich,eineAussagezutreffen.Esistmglich,dasssichdieseBeutealsFloperweist.EsisteinExperiment.
IntroductionwhyaWarrTreeHive?
AfterreadingIanRumsey'stextsaboutthecellorientationandnaturalwaysofimproving varroacontainment(seeappendage)theideawasborntocombinetheconclusionsofRumseywiththe
Warrhiveforfurtherstudyingandobservation.AtthisstagebuildingthehiveisanexperimenttoverifyRumsey'sobservationsandhypothesises.Pleasebeawareoftheexperimentalstatus.
WirddieWarrbeutedenvonIanRumseyaufgestelltenAnforderungengerecht?!
DerHauptsatzvonIanRumseylautet:Atallthinhiveisthereforebetterthanashortfathive.bersetzt:Einehohe,schmaleBeuteistdaherbesseralseineniedrigeundbreiteBeute.
DieWarrbeuteistansichvertikalaufgebaut.DieHhederBeuteistgreralsdieBreite.DerInnenraumeinerWarrbeutemitdreiZargenistinetwa90Zentimeterhochund30cmbreit.DasbesondereMaderWarrbeutejedochveranlasstdieBienendieWabennichtdurchgngigvonobennachuntenzuziehen.SomitsinddieeinzelnenWaben30cmbreitund1920cmhoch.HieristalsodieHhegeringeralsdieBreite.DasuertsichauchinderAusrichtungderZellen,diesehrunterschiedlichausfllt. Es gibt Zellen des Spitzedes Sechsecks nachoben, schrgnach links oderrechts,oderwaagrechtliegen.NachIanRumseywerdenineinerechtenvertikalenBehausungberwiegendZellengebaut,derenSpitzendesSechsecksliegend/horizontalausgerichtetsind.DasistallenAnscheinnachineinerWarrbeutenochnichtderFall.
DerClouderWarrbeuteist,dassdieZargensichohneDrahttrennenlassen,dadieBienendurchdasbestimmteVerhltnisvonBreiteundHhe(30cmBreitezu20cmHhe)dazuangeleitetsind.DiesermglichtdemImkerdiekomfortableImkereimitStabilbauohnedieMatscherei,diesonstmitStabilbauderFallist.BeiderAnpassungderWarrbeuteandieAnforderungenvonRumsey,solldieserVorteilerhaltenbleiben.DaherwardieIdeenichtfern,dassVerhltnisbeizubehaltenundnurdieMaevonHheundBreitezuvertauschen.SomiterhltmaneineZarge,die30cmhochund20cmbreitist.SowohldieBeutealsGanzes,alsauchdieeinzelneZargeistsomitvertikalausgerichtet.ZieldesExperimentesist,herauszufinden,ob...
a.)...dasbeibehalteneSeitenverhltnisbeiVertauschungderMaevonHheundBreitezumgleichenErgebnisfhren,nmlichdieTeilbarkeitderZargenohneVerwendungvonDraht
b.)...dieOrientierungderSechseckedurchgngiginallenZargenhorizontalist.AlsodieSpitzendesSechseckesnachlinksundrechtszeigen.UndsomitdieThesevonRumseyuntersttzen,dassvertikalehoheHhlungenimmerzueinersolchenZellorientierungfhren
c.)...obdieVlkermitderPositionundFormdesBrutnestes,sowiederAusrichtungderZellenwenigerSchwierigkeitenmitderVarroahaben
DoestheWarrhivefulfillIanRumsey'srequirementsforagoodhive?!
ThemainthesisofIanRumseyis:Atallthinhiveisthereforebetterthanashortfathive.
TheWarrhiveisaverticalhive(itiscalledaverticaltopbarhiveforthisreasonaswell).Theorientationofthehiveitselfisthusvertical.Butthecombinsidethehiveboxisnotvertical.Thecombisbroaderthantall.Thismakesahorizontalcombinsideaverticalhive.InWarrhivesallorientationofcellscanbefound.Inarealverticalhive,thereshouldbehorizontalcellorientationmainly.ThusthehivehastobemodifiedtofulfilltherequirementsofIanRumsey.
OneofthemainadvantagesoftheWarrhiveis,thatthebeekeepercanliftthehiveboxoff,withouttheneedtouseacutwire.Thisismuchlessmessyandenableseasyfixedcombbeekeeping.Thatthebeesdon'tinterconnectthehiveboxesisduetothespecialmeasurementsandratioofheightandwidthofthehivebox.
Toretaintheeasinessofliftingoffthehivebox,Itrytoswapthemeasurementsofheightandwidth,butkeeptherationoftheboth.Iuse30cm(11.81inch)fortheheightnowand20cm(7,87inch)forthewidth.
Thiswaythewholehiveisverticalaswellasthecombinsidethehivebox.Theexperimentshallverifythat...
a.)...theswappingofthemeasurementsofheightandwidthbutretainingtheratiowillendinmovablehiveboxes.Thustheratioisthereasonfornotconnecting(GoldenCut,Fibanoccietc.)
b.)...orientationofcombinatrueverticalhiveishorizontalmostofthetimes.Thetipsorsharpedgesofthehexagonshallshowtotheleftandright.
c.)...theeffectivenessofthebroodnestformandorientation,aswellascellorientationwhenitcomestovarroacontainment.
DieAnpassungderWarrbeute/ModifyingtheWarrhive
DiefolgendenBilderzeigen,wieichdieAnpassungenvorgenommenhabe.ThefollowingpicturesshowhowImodifiedthehive.
WeildieHhederZargengreralsdieBreiteist,warvonAnfanganklar,dassdieBeutesehrinstabilstehenwird.DaherhabeichdirekteinRckgratgebaut,andemdieBeuteangelehntoderfestgebundenwird.DiesesRckgratbestehtauszweiDachlatten.
Becausethehiveboxistallerthanwide,itwasapparentfromthebeginning,thatsomesortofsupportwasneeded.SoIconstructedsomesortofaspineboard,whichlatersupportsthehive.
Abbildung1:RckgratderBeute/spineboardforthehive
DenBodenderBeutebefestigteichdirektandemRckgratderBeute,damitdieZargeneinengutenStandhaben.DieKonstruktiondesUnterbaushabeichjedochzukompliziertvorgenommen,hieristeineeinfachereVersionzuempfehlen,alsdasDreieck.
ThehivefloorIfixedatthespineboard,becausethiswaythehiveboxeshaveagoodstand.Thetriangularconstructionistoodifficult,thiscanandshouldbesolvedmoreeasily.
Abbildung2:Boden/floor
UmdieZargenherzustellenhabeichvierBretterversetztaufeinandergenagelt.SoerhielticheinelangeRhre,dieichanschlieendindieeinzelnenZargenzersgte.
TobuildthehiveboxesIusedfourwoodenboardsnailedontoeachother.ThiswayIgotalongwoodenpipe.Iusedasawtocutthepipeintoseveralhiveboxes.
Abbildung3:HerstellungderZargen/buildofthehiveboxes
Abbildung4:HlzerneRhre/woodenpipe
Dazuhabeichjeweils30cmabgemessenunddieZargenvonderhlzernenRhreabgesgt.
Imeasured30cm/11.81inchandcutthehiveboxesofthewoodenpipe.
Abbildung5:AbsgenderZargenstcke/cuttingthepipeintohiveboxes
Abbildung6:Zargen/hiveboxes
Dasistdefinitivhochundschmal!
Thisisdefinitelytallandthin!
Abbildung7:Zargenaufeinandergestellt/stackedhiveboxes
DieBeuteinderGesamtansichtundmiteinemeinfachenDachversehen.
Overviewofthehivewithasimpleroofontop.
Abbildung8:BeutemitDach/hivewithroof
DasKissenderWarrbeutehabeichauseinemStckderhlzernenRhrerealisiert. EswirdmitHeugeflltwerden.BeidemDachhabeicheineeinfachereVersiongewhlt.DurchdieSeitenwirdeinSpanngurtgefhrt,sodassdasDachmitsamtderBeutefixiertwerdenkann.
ThequiltImadeofashorterhivebox,closedwithalidandasimpleroof.ThroughthesidesIpushalashingstrapthatfixatesbothhiveandroof.
Abbildung9:DachimDetail/detailofroof
ZweiPfostenhabeicheingegrabenundeingeschlagen,diespterdasRckgrathaltensollenundsomiteinefreistehendeBeuteermglichensollen.UntenhabeichzweiZiegelsteineverwendetundeinenangenageltenQuerbalken,aufdendasGestell/Rckgratzustehenkommt.
Iusedtwoduggedandrammedinpoleswhichlaterholdthespineboard.Twobricksandapieceoftimberareusedasabasethespinewillplacedonto.Thetimberisnailedtothepoles.
Abbildung10:PfostenalsStnder/polesasrack
DasRckgratoderdenRahmenderBeutenagelteichdannandiePfosten.IchhabedasHolzmitFeuerangekohlt,damitesnichtrottet.Daheristesjetztschwarz.
Thespineboardwasnailedinplace.Iusedablowtorchtoburnthewoodtomakeitresistantsoitdoesn'tgetrottentofast.Thisiswhyitisblack.
Abbildung11:RckgratandenPfostenbefestigt/spineboardinplace
DieBeuteistaufgestellt.DievomWetterstarkbeanspruchtenTeile(BodenundDach)wurdenmiteinerbienenfreundlichenFarbeangestrichen.Schner,trockenerundwindstillerStandplatzunterBumen.
Thecompletedhive.Theroofandfloorwhicharestressedmostgotabeefriendlypainting.Thelashingstrapisinplace.Calm,dryandshadyspotbelowtrees.
Abbildung12:AufgestellteBeute/hiveinplace
DieBeuteistaufgestelltundwartetnungeduldigaufdieBewohner.WahrscheinlichwirdsieerstimJahr2009miteinemSchwarmbesiedelt.IchhabedieZargenvonobennachuntendurchnummeriert,damitichdiezueinandergehrendenZargenbesserzusammenstellenkann.Aufgrunddessen,dassichvonHandsge,sinddieSchnittkantensehrindividuell(sprichschief).
Thehiveisnowinplaceandawaitsthebeestocome.Mostprobablythebeeswillmoveinbyaswarmin2009.Inumberedthehiveboxes,soIcanreassemblethehiveintheproperorder,whichisnecessarybecauseofthecuttingbyhand.Whichinturnproducesasymmetricedges.
Daswaresbisjetzt.DasExperimentkannbeginnen./That'sallfornow.Lettheexperimentstart.
Abbildung14:DetaildesBodens/detailoffloor Abbildung13:DetailDach/detailofroof
Abbildungsverzeichnis/IndexofpicturesshownAbbildung1:RckgratderBeute/spineboardforthehive................................................................4Abbildung2:Boden/floor..................................................................................................................5Abbildung3:HerstellungderZargen/buildofthehiveboxes............................................................6Abbildung4:HlzerneRhre/woodenpipe.......................................................................................6Abbildung5:AbsgenderZargenstcke/cuttingthepipeintohiveboxes.........................................7Abbildung6:Zargen/hiveboxes.........................................................................................................7Abbildung7:Zargenaufeinandergestellt/stackedhiveboxes...........................................................8Abbildung8:BeutemitDach/hivewithroof.....................................................................................9Abbildung9:DachimDetail/detailofroof......................................................................................10Abbildung10:PfostenalsStnder/polesasrack..............................................................................11Abbildung11:RckgratandenPfostenbefestigt/spineboardinplace............................................12Abbildung12:AufgestellteBeute/hiveinplace...............................................................................13Abbildung13:DetailDach/detailofroof.........................................................................................14Abbildung14:DetaildesBodens/detailoffloor..............................................................................14
Inhaltsverzeichnis/IndexofContentWarrTreeHiveWarrBaumbeute...................................................................................................1
EinleitungWarumdieWarrBaumbeute?!..................................................................................1IntroductionwhyaWarrTreeHive?...........................................................................................1WirddieWarrbeutedenvonIanRumseyaufgestelltenAnforderungengerecht?!........................2DoestheWarrhivefulfillIanRumsey'srequirementsforagoodhive?!......................................2DieAnpassungderWarrbeute/ModifyingtheWarrhive...........................................................4Anhang/Appendage.......................................................................................................................16
INVESTIGATIONINTONATURALCOMB.........................................................................16NATURALWAYSOFIMPROVINGVARROACONTAINMENT........................................22
Anhang/Appendage
INVESTIGATIONINTONATURALCOMB
HorizontalandVerticalComb
Horizontal comb is said to occur when the apex of the hexagon cell is at the top.Verticalcombhastheapexofthehexagonatthesideandisinfacthorizontalcombrotatedthrough90degrees.
Theshapeofthehexagonenablesittowithstandexternallyappliedtensionsandpressuresincontrastingdegree,dependentupontheorientationoftheapex.
Fromthediagrambelowitmaybeseenthattensionappliedverticallyandpressureappliedhorizontallywouldflattenandelongatehorizontalcomb.
Howeverareversalofthesetensionsandpressureswouldpermitthehexagontomorereadilyretainitsshape.
Thisisduetothehorizontalzigzagcomponentofthehexagonmatrixbeingrestrictedregardingstretchingandflatteningastheverticaltiespreventtheparallelzigzagcomponentsmovingapartinanoppositedirection.
Astateofequilibriumisobtainedandthehexagonshapeismaintained.
Itisclearthereforethattoavoidcelldistortioninnaturalcombthehexagoncellsmustbeorientatedinsuchawayastowithstandtheinternaltensionexertedwithinthebroodnestarea.
IanRumsey
CellOrientation
Tounderstandthefinerpointsconcerningnaturalcombconstruction,letusconsultthemasterofthisart,thedesignerofthestructure,themanufactureroftheactualmaterial,namelythebee,andalsocomparetheirknowledgeandabilitywithourownmechanicaltheory.Twodifferenttypesofmindmayobtainthesamesolution.
Thebroodnestareaisencircledwithstoreswhichsupplythecircumferencewitharigidframework.Theshapeofthebroodnest,withourtheory,shoulddecreethedistortionalstressesandinconsequencethecellorientation.
Letustakearope,suspendedsaybetweentwopoles30feetapart.Itwouldformacatenary,andthetightertheropethemoreshallowthecatenarywouldbecome.Theropewouldbeundertensioninthehorizontalplainandthereisnoneedforanyintermediateverticalsupporttoaidsuspension.Wewillnowenvisagetheropeasanarrangementofhexagoncells,andtowithstandsuchtension,thehexagonwouldrequiretobeorientatedwiththeapexatthetop.Itwouldfollowthatwherethebroodnestwasmuchwiderthanitisdeepasimilarorientationwouldberequiredtoavoiddistorti
on.Thebeesunderstandthisandbuildhorizontalcombaccordingly.
Ropesmaybesuspendeddownwells,herethetensionintheropewouldbeverticalandhexagoncellsrepresentingtheropewouldrequiretheapextobeatthesidetonowwithstandtheverticaltension.Uponthisexamplebeesbuildingnaturalcombintallnarrowcavitieswouldexperienceverticaltensionandbeexpectedtoproduceverticalcomb.Theycomply.
MayIsuggestthatbeesappreciatedthemechanicsofhexagonstructuresbeforewecouldcounttoten.Waxfoundation,beingproducedashorizontalcomb,preventsverticalcombbeingpresentwithinthehive,whereasnaturalcombinferalcoloniesveryoftenproducesbroodnestscomprisingofverticalcomb.Feralcoloniesappeartosurviveinareasofvarroainfestation;coloniescontainingverticalcomb.Perhapsconsiderationshouldnowbegivenastowhetherverticalcombmaybedetrimentaltovarroareproduction.
VarroaandCellOrientation
Thepresenceofverticalcombinthebroodnestofaferalcolonyisquitecommonplace.Thequestionthereforearisesastowhetherthistypeofcombisinsomewaydetrimentaltovarroareproduction.Itisgeneralknowledgethatthemitewhenenteringthecellpriortocapping,hidesbehindthelarvawhichiscurledupatthefarendofthecell.Itisalsoacceptedthatifavisitingnursebeeobservesthe mite in the cell prior to hiding behind the larva, the bee will remove the varroa.Thisisaperiodofdangerforthevarroa.
AlthoughthevarroaisdeemedtohavesomeaquaticabilityregardingbeemilkIfeelthattheattempttopassbetweenthelarvaandthecellwallwouldbemadewheretheconditionswerethemostfavourable,namelywhereitisdryandthepressureisleast.Thepressurebetweenthelarvaandthecellwallisgreatestatthebottomofthecellduetogravityandtheweightofthelarva.Thepressureisleastatthetop.
Withhorizontalcomb,withtheapexatthetop,asmalltriangularspaceoccursabovethelarvaandthe mite therefore may gain easy access. The conditions are also dry.Whereverticalcombispresentandtheflatportionofthehexagonisuppermostthiseaseofaccessisnolongeravailable.Diagramrefers.
Thelongerthetimethatthevarroatakestohideitself,thegreaterthelikelihoodbecomesofanursebeeinspectingthecellandremovingthemite.
Experimentsarecurrentlybeingundertakentotestthistheoryastowhethercellinfestationislesswhenverticalcombispresent.
Itisinterestingtonotethatthepressurebetweenthecellwallandthelarvamayalsobeincreased,andnodoubtcauseasimilareffect,bydecreasingthesizeofthecell,orbyintroducingaqueenmated,orbredfrom,aslightlylargerstrain.
Intheinsectworldtherearenumerousinstanceswheretheparasiteisawareofitshost'slocation,whichwithonlyoursenses,wouldappearimpossible.
J.H.Fabrehasbeenconsultedandisofthesameopinion.
Aparasitewishingtolayitseggadjacenttoitshost'slarvaachievesitspurposebecauseitcandetectthe location, age and health of the larva through the equivalent of a brick wall.The senses the parasite uses are beyond our comprehension or even acknowledgement.Althoughvarroaarenotinsects,thereisnoreasonwhytheyshouldnotalsohavethisparasiticcapability.
Varroadonotjustturnuppriortocappingbypurechance,andwiththisabilitytheywouldbeawareoftheposition,ageandhealthofeverylarvainthehive,andcouldmaptheircourseaccordingly.Ifthiswerethecase,regularmanipulationofbroodframes,wheretheframesarereshuffledratherthanreplacedintheirformerposition,wouldconfusebothbeesandvarroawhichwouldbedetrimentaltothevarroaregardingnestsitelocation.
Theconfusiontothebeeisdifficulttoquantify,but'chewingout'maybeasignthatthebeesarenothappy with the new brood nest shape and are rearranging matters more to their liking. Whetherthepenetrationofthisspecialawarenessiseffectedbythepresenceofmetal,suchasasheetofqueenexcluder,isopentofurtherspeculation.Infactqueenexcludermayalreadyplayanimportantrollinvarroareproductionintwoways.
(1)Varroabredindronecellsthatremainonthedronesafteremergencefromthecellwillberetainedinthebroodnestareaduetothequeenexcluder.
(2)Thequeenexcluderwouldactasasafetynetforgroomedvarroaformallyattachedtoworkerbeesoperatingintheupperpartofthehive.
Notonlymayvarroahavethisspecialawarenessofthebee,thebeemayalsohaveaspecialawarenessofthevarroa.
Itisdarkwithinthecell,sothebee'srecognitionofthevarroawillnotbeocular,butbythisspecialawarenessthatcanidentifyotherlifeformsthroughinterveningmaterial.However,thisawarenessapparentlywillnotpenetratethroughthelifeformofthelarva,andinconsequencethelifeformofthevarroaremainsundetected.
Itisalsoequallypossiblethatthevarroaknowsthatitwillbeseenbythebeeunlessithidesitslifeformbehindthelifeformofthelarva.Thevarroaisawareofthebee'sawareness,butareweaware
ofthevarroa'sawareness;Ithinknot.
CombBetwixtBetween
Beesbeingbees,andnaturebeingnature,therealsooccursnaturalcombwhichisavariationbetweenthehorizontalandverticalarrangement.
Aspreviouslyexplained,verticalcombisjusthorizontalcombturnedthrough90degrees,butinactualfactduetothehexagonshape,therotationneedonlybe30degreestoachievethesameresult.Ifonetookthisrotationatonedegreeatatimetherewouldbeafurther29variationsofcomborientationbetweenhorizontalandverticalcomb.
Thisthirdtypeofcombclearlyexists,itoccursquiteregularly,andappearstotheeyeashorizontalcombwithadownwardslope.
Ifourtheoryregardingdistortionalstresseswithinthebroodnestisvalid,thenapplicationofthistheoryshouldprovideareasonfortheexistenceofthiscombwhichisbetwixtbetween.Diagramrefers.
Considerabroodnestthatisnotcentrallyplacedwithinthecombandisaltogetherovertooneside,to the extent that one side of the broodnest directly abuts the frame or cavity wall.Therearenocellscontainingsealedstoresonthisside,therigidframeworksurroundingthebroodnesthasbeenbroken.Thestressesnowinsidethisareaareneithertotallyverticalorhorizontalbutsomewhereinbetween.
Tocompensateforthis,beesreorientatedtheircellconstructiontothealignmentofthereviseddirectionoftension.Diagramrefers.
So,whyshouldbeesbuildabroodnestnotcentrallyplacedwithinthecombbutovertooneside?MayIsuggesttemperaturevariation.Whencombisplacedsothatatemperaturegradientoccursacrossitssurface,thebroodnestmaywellbepositionedtowardsthewarmestedge.Thistheoryiseasilyprovedbyobservingthepresenceofcombwithsuchaslopeandnotingwhethertheslopeisdowntowardthewarmerpositionwithinthehive,andthatthebroodnestisinfactoffsetalsointhisdirection.
Evenwiththesestructuralvariationsbeingavailable,thequeencannotaffordtolayhereggsintotaldisregardtotheloadingofthebroodnestarea. Anexampleofthequeen'sbalancedmethodofbroodexpansionmaybeseeninHerrodHempsall'sbook'BeekeepingNewandOld'pages429/430which includes 17 photographs clearly showing this careful management.Asonemightexpectwiththesestructuralconsiderationsinmind,thelargerandheavierdronecellsareplacedalongtheundersideofthebroodnestareathusagainminimizingpossiblecelldistortion.Hastherebeenalotofthoughtputintothemanufactureofferalcolonycombwhichtakesallthesefactorsintoconsideration?
Is this thought undertaken prior to actual commencement of comb construction? Doesthecombconstructionreflecttheuniqueenvironmentalconditionsforeachferalcolony?andbecomeapermanentrecordofjointinformationthathasbeencollectedandacteduponbyagroupofindividuals?
Theevidenceisthere,unbelievable,orunacceptable,asitmaybe.
ThefinalchapterofT.W.CowensbookTheHoneyBeeisentitledWaxandCombConstructionwhichisconcludedbyaquotationbyLordBrougham.ThesecondsentenceofthisquotationreadsNotastepcanwetakeinanydirectionwithoutperceivingthemostextraordinarytracesofdesign.ThisIfeelincludestheconstructionofnaturalcomb.
IanRumsey
NATURALWAYSOFIMPROVINGVARROACONTAINMENT
THEIMPORTANCEOFTHESHAPEANDTHEPOSITIONOFTHEBROODNEST
Thebroodnestofacolony,whencontainedbyqueenexcluder,andhousedinaconventionalhive,willbeovalinshapewiththemajoraxishorizontal.
Feralcolonieshoweverbuildnaturalcombtothelimitsofthecavitytheyhavechosenfortheirhome.Thecombshape,andinconsequencethebroodnestshape,willvaryconsiderablyfromthatimposeduponthembybeekeepers,andinsomecases,inaferalcolony,thebroodnestmaybefoundtobeoval,butwiththemajoraxisvertical.
Thisatfirstglancewouldnotsuggestasituationthatwasdetrimentaltothereproductionofvarroa,butletusconsiderthematterfurther.
Itisanacceptedfactthatbeeswillgroomvarroatosomedegree,althoughtheapparenteffectivenessofthisabilityisdependentuponthepositionoftheentrancerelativetothefloor,thetypeoffloorinuse,andthespaceavailablebeneaththeundersideofthecomb.
Thedegreeofgroomingexperiencedbyvarroaisproportionaltothedistancetheytravelawayfromfuturesuitablenestsitesbeforetheirdesiretorecommencereproductionoccurs.
Anyincreasethereforeinthisdistancewouldbeofbenefittothebeeandofdetrimenttothevarroa.
Suchincreasemaybeaccomplishedinthreeways(1).Bythechangeofbroodnestshapefromcirculartooval.(2).Bytheorientationoftheovalbroodnestfrommajoraxishorizontaltomajoraxisvertical.(3).Bypositioningoftheverticalovalbroodnestinsuchawayastomaximizethedistancebet
weenstoragecombandthebroodcomb.
THESHAPEOFTHEBROODNEST
Letusfirstconsiderafishinasquarepond2ftby2ft providingasurfaceareaof4squareft.Ourfishlikeseatingfliesandtosatisfythisnaturaldemandwewillallowoneflytolandrandomlysomewhereonthesurface.Thefurthestdistancethefishandflycanbeapartiswhentheyareindiagonallyoppositecorners.
Thefishunderstandsthisandpositionsitselfinthecentreofthepond,sothemostitmustnowtravelis1.414ft.
We will now place our fish into a pond 4 ft by 1 ft thus retaining the same surface area.Thedistancesnowtravelledbythefishtocatchhisflyhaveincreased.Evenwhenhestationshimselfinthemiddleofthepondhemaybeasmuchas2.06ftawayfromtheunsuspectingfly,anincreaseof46percent.
Apond8ftlongandonly6incheswideincreasesthisdistanceby183percentwhichisquiteanadvantagetothefly.
Clearlythelongerandnarrowerthepondbecomesthegreaterthedistancesthefishmayhavetoswimtoobtainhisfly.
Returningtobeekeeping,wewillnowconsideracircularbroodnestwithoneworkercellwaitingtobecapped.Onevarroaisintroduced,placedrandomlywithinthisarea.Thedistancebetweenthecellandthevarroamaybeasgreatasthediameterofthecircle,ormuchless.
Letusnowcomparethiswithanovalbroodnestofthesameareabut4timeslongerthanitiswide.Likethefishinaretangularpond,thevarroawillfindthatthemaximumtravellingdistancehasincreasedtogetherwiththepossibilityofbeinggroomed.
Itisthereforeillustratedthatvarroamaymorereadilyinfestaworkerbroodcellsituatedinabroodnestthatiscircular,ratherthanonewhichisofovalconstruction.
BROODNESTORIENTATION
Letusnowconsidertheorientationoftheovalbroodnest.WewillassumethattheeightsquaresinFig1representaframeofcombinthebroodnestandFig2isthesameframerotatedthrough90degrees.InFig1thedistancesfromthecentreofeachsquaretopointAaremeasuredandcomparedwithsimilarmeasurementstakentopointBinFig2.ItwillbefoundthatthedistancestopointBare40percentgreaterthanthosemeasuredtopointA.
This40percentfigureapplieswhentherectangleistwiceaslongasitisdeep.Whentherectangleisthreetimeslongerthanitisdeepandsimilarmeasurementsaretakenthispercentageincreasesto60.
Wherethebeesareevenlydistributedthroughoutthebroodareaandthevarroaareevenlydistributedamongstthebees,itwouldbereasonabletosuggestthatabroodframewhichistwiceaslongthanitisdeep,whenrotatedthrough90degrees,wouldenhancethedistancesvarroarequiretotraveltoreachdronebroodwhentheyarelocatedatthebottomoftheframe.
Theincreaseddistanceof40percentlengthensthetimethevarroaisliabletobegroomedwhichwouldincreasethevarroadropaccordingly.
Thisbenefitmaybefurtherenhancedto60percentbyincreasingthedepth/lengthratiofrom21to
31.Anovalbroodnestthereforewhenorientatedwiththemajoraxisverticalwouldagainbeofadvantagetothebee.
HIVESHAPE
Finallyletusconsidertheshapeofanactualhivewhichconsistsofabroodbox2ftx2ftand1ftdeep,asuperalso2ftx2ftand1ftdeep,withqueenexcluderinbetween.
Wewillassumethatthebeesareevenlydistributedthroughoutthehiveandthatthephoreticmitesareevenlydistributedamongstthebees.Underthesecircumstancesthecentreofthebroodnestmaybetakentobehalfwayupthebroodbox,6inchesabovethefloorlevel.Thecentreofthemassofbeesmaybetakenas1ftabovefloorlevel.Thedistancebetweenthesetwomassesis6inchesandisindicativeoftheaveragedistancebetweenthephoreticmitesandthebroodnest.
Keepingthehivecapacitythesame,letusnowenvisageabroodbox1ftx1ftand4ftdeepwithasuperalso1ftx1ftand4ftdeep,positionedontop,againwithqueenexcluderinbetween.Thedistancebetweenthecentreofthebroodnestandthecentreofthemassofbeeshasnowincreasedfrom6inchesto2ft.Thetravellingdistanceofthemitestopossiblenestsiteshasincreasedby400percent,againtothedetrimentofthevarroa.
Atallthinhiveisthereforebetterthanashortfathive.
Sotosummarize.Theshapeofthehiveincreasesvarroatravellingdistancesandinconsequenceincreasesgroomingopportunitiesinthreeways.
(1) Provisionofanovalbroodnestinsteadofcircular.(2) Orientationoftheovalbroodnestsothatthemajoraxisisvertical.(3) Provisionofatallnarrowvolumeforcolonyoccupation.
Theremaybeinfactafourthandevenafifthadvantage.
Ifvarroahaveasenseofawarenessofthelocationofsuitablenestsites,thisawarenessmusthavesomelimitingrangeandafallingoffofaccuracyatitsupperlimit,sothedistancebetweenhostandparasiteisofimportance.
Alsoviewingsuitablenestsitesendontotheovalbroodnestwouldresultinasmallersurfaceareabeingscannedwhichwouldreducetheattractionandincreasemultiplemitecellinfestationasitwouldappear,tothemites,thatfewercellswereavailableforoccupation.
IanRumsey
Warr Tree Hive Warr BaumbeuteEinleitung Warum die Warr-Baumbeute?!Introduction why a Warr Tree Hive?Wird die Warrbeute den von Ian Rumsey aufgestellten Anforderungen gerecht?!Does the Warr hive fulfill Ian Rumsey's requirements for a good hive?!Die Anpassung der Warrbeute / Modifying the Warr hiveAnhang /AppendageINVESTIGATION INTO NATURAL COMBNATURAL WAYS OF IMPROVING VARROA CONTAINMENT