IMPORTANT TO KNOW
To better understand the problem, we conducted background research on relevant topics, and from this we learned the following:  Swarming is a common event in the life cycle of a honeybee colony, occurring in spring or in response to changes in weather. A swarm is made up of the queen bee and a significant portion of the worker bees, ranging from 50 to 60% of the colony's population. The purpose of swarming is to ensure the survival and growth of the colony by creating new colonies, adapting to changing environmental conditions, and reducing overcrowding. Swarming occurs when the beehive has reached its maximum population capacity, and the worker bees start preparing the current queen bee for her departure. The emergence of a new queen bee signals the start of the swarming process, where roughly half of the bees in the colony, including the original queen, will leave the beehive in search of a new home. Once the swarm leaves the hive they will land on a temporary location while scouts are sent out to look for a permanent location for the new hive. Scout bees will then communicate their findings to the other bees through a dance known as the "waggle dance". In some cases, bee colonies may engage in absconding, where the entire colony, including the queen bee, will abandon the hive and move to a new location in search of better conditions. Beekeepers must be vigilant and monitor their colonies regularly, particularly during the spring and summer months when swarming is most common, to ensure the health and productivity of their colonies.
WHY IS THIS PROBLEM IMPORTANT?
-
The Western/European honeybee is a crucial pollinator in agriculture, responsible for pollinating about one-third of American agriculture.
-
A decline in pollinators like the European honeybee would have a significant impact on the global food supply, with at least 10% of crop production expected to decline without them.
-
Lower-income countries that rely on cash crops like cocoa, coffee, soybeans, palm oil, and avocados for a trade would be particularly affected by a decline in pollinators.
-
Table 1 shows the percentage of agricultural production harvest that is lost due to a lack of pollinators, with fruits, vegetables, nuts, avocados, and cocoa beans being the most dependent on pollinators.
-
The loss of pollinators can lead to a significant reduction in crop yields and lower quality produce, resulting in higher prices and reduced access to food for consumers.
-
The loss of pollinators also has an economic impact on farmers and the agriculture industry, leading to reduced profits and increased costs.
-
The economic benefits of pollinators, particularly honeybees, in North America are significant, responsible for $15 billion worth of crops in the United States each year, including more than 130 types of fruits, nuts, and vegetables.
-
Mexico is heavily dependent on pollinators, with more than 85% of its cultivated plant species relying on them, making pollinators crucial to the country's major trade in fruits.
-
Overall, it is crucial to protect and preserve pollinators, especially honeybees, to ensure the continued economic prosperity of countries that rely on agriculture and trade.
Competitors
Currently, there are no direct competitors to a preemptive swarm capture solution. Existing solutions for capturing fully formed swarms include large scale Nucleus/Langstroth hive boxes, simple netting capture devices, and self-made traps using lemongrass essential oil. However, these products lack proper ventilation, seals, or automation, which require beekeepers' presence during the capture process.
