Mating chamber for honey bees
AssigneeState of Oregon acting by and through the Oregon State Board of Higher Education on behalf of Oregon State University
InventorsPhilippe A. Rossignol, Lynn A. Royce, Beryl A. Stringer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An enclosure for the controlled breeding of honey bees has a diffusely illuminated upper dome section. The dome is illuminated either by upwardly directed light reflected or emitted from a lower portion of the enclosure, or by an external source diffused through the dome. A queen bee is tethered in the center of the enclosure below the dome.
Claims23
Apparatus for the controlled mating of flying insects of the type which copulate while in flight, the apparatus comprising:
- a lower portion;
- and
- an illuminated dome attached to the lower portion to define therewith an enclosure for containing the insects,
- wherein the dome scatters incident light to present a generally diffuse evenly illuminated appearance, without a point source of light that attracts insects when viewed from within the enclosure.
An apparatus for the controlled mating of flying insects of the type which copulate while in flight, the apparatus comprising:
- a lower portion;
- an illuminated dome attached to the lower portion to define therewith an enclosure for containing insects;
- and
- a tethering device for holding an insect carrying eggs to be fertilized within the enclosure at a generally central point beneath the dome.
A method of mating flying insects of the type which copulate while in flight, the method comprising:
- enclosing insects to be mated within a chamber partially defined by a light scattering dome;
- and
- diffusely illuminating the dome interior surface in such a manner that insects in flight inside the chamber cannot see an exterior point source of light when viewing the dome.
A method of mating flying insects of the type which copulate while in flight, the method comprising:
- enclosing insects to be mated within a chamber partially defined by an illuminated dome;
- and
- tethering within the chamber a female insect to be fertilized, the female insect being tethered in such a manner that the female insect can be fertilized by a male insect while the male insect is in flight.
An enclosure for the controlled breeding of honey bees comprising:
- an upper dome portion having a diffusely reflective interior surface and having a lower perimeter in a generally horizontal plane;
- a lower portion having an upper perimeter sealed to the lower perimeter of the dome whereby a space is enclosed from which insects cannot escape;
- a light source for evenly illuminating the interior surface of the dome;
- a tethering device having a harness sized to capture and restrain a narrowed region of a queen bee to be fertilized, the harness collar being positioned generally centrally within the enclosure at a height generally above the lower perimeter of the dome.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.