Beeswax mimetic substances and methods of operating beehives
AssigneeUniversiteit Gent
InventorsJean Paul Remon, Franciscus Joanna Jacobs
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Abstract
A beeswax mimetic substance is described which comprises or consists essentially of a synthetic or semisynthetic wax, in particular a microcrystalline wax. The wax preferably has a relatively narrow range of mean carbon chain length. An apiculture accessory using the wax and a method of operating beehives using the wax to reduce disease and pests in beehives is described.
Claims21
Use of a synthetic or semi-synthetic beeswax mimetic substance in an apiculture accessory, the mimetic substance comprising a microcrystalline wax, said microcrystalline wax being characterised in that it has a mean carbon chain length of 33±4 atoms.
An apiculture accessory for use in a beehive, the accessory comprising a semi-synthetic or synthetic beeswax mimetic substance, the mimetic substance comprising a microcrystalline wax, said microcrystalline wax being characterised in that it has a mean carbon chain length of 33±4 atoms.
The apiculture accessory of characterised in that said microcrystalline wax has a mean carbon chain length of 33±3 atoms.
A method of reducing pests, disease or parasites in a beehive including at least one apiculture accessory comprising beeswax or a beeswax mimetic substance, the method comprising the step of:
- replacing the one apiculture accessory at periodic intervals with the same accessory made using virgin beeswax mimetic substance, the beeswax mimetic substance comprising a microcrystalline wax having a mean carbon chain length of 33±4 atoms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.