Method for monitoring bee visits to a bee feeder having labyrinthine passages

1. A method for monitoring and estimating bee populations in an ecosystem by monitoring and recording bee visits to a labyrinthine bee feeding apparatus (LBF), the method comprising:

counting bee visits to the LBF utilizing one or more monitoring devices;

transmitting the bee visit data via one or more communication devices;

recording the bee visits to the LBF; and

monitoring an economic and ecological benefit of a bee population in an ecosystem;

wherein the LBF comprises:

a housing comprising:

at least one entrance connected to one or more passageways each having at least one bend, wherein each of the at least one bend is configured to allow passage of a bee therethrough and to inhibit passage of a yellow jacket, wasp, or hornet; and

at least one feed dispensing area within the housing, located at a terminus of each of the one or more passageways; and

a one-way port leading from the at least one feed dispensing area to an exterior of the housing that is configured to allow a bee to exit the at least one feed dispensing area and to inhibit reentry of the bee and/or to prevent entry of a yellow jacket, wasp, or hornet;

a cover member positioned over the housing that is configured to receive and secure a removable feeding vessel in fluid communication with the at least one feed dispensing area; and

the housing and/or cover member comprising:

one or more communication devices comprising:

wireless internet receivers/transmitters;

one or more monitoring and/or attracting devices selected from:

internal or external video cameras,

electric eye counter mechanisms,

pollen sensors,

internal or external light sources,

sonic emitting devices,

fragrance emitting devices, or

combinations thereof;

wherein the monitoring devices are configured to monitor the number of bee visits to the bee feeding apparatus; and

one or more power sources selected from:

batteries,

rechargeable batteries, or

solar panels;

wherein the one or more power sources is configured to provide power to the one or more communication devices and the one or more monitoring and/or attracting devices.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more passageways comprises at least one about 10° to about 90° bend.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more passageways comprises: at least one about 30° to about 90° bend, at least one about 45° to about 90° bend, at least one about 60° to about 90° bend, at least one about 80° to about 90° bend, or at least one about 90° bend.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more passageways comprises at least one about 90° bend.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more passageways comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 about 90° bends.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more passageways comprises 5 about 90° bends.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LBF further comprises:

a removable feeding vessel which contains a bee feeding medium.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the bee feeding medium comprises: water, honey, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, bee candy, nectar, pollen, pollen patties, grease patties, bee bread, propolis, bees wax, protein supplements, or combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the bee feeding medium comprises one or more mushroom mycelium extracts.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more mushroom mycelium extracts comprises about 1% or less by volume of one or more aqueous ethanolic extracts of the mycelium of Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma resinaceum, Fomes fomentarius, Trametes versicolor, Fomitopsis officinalis, Ganoderma applanatum, lnonotus obliquus , or combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the bee feeding medium is configured to:

benefit bees by treating infections of or reducing the susceptibility to viruses, fungal pathogens, bacterial pathogens, beetles, or mites;

reduces viral transmission from bees to plants;

increase the ability of bees to spread pollen;

increase the flight time of bees;

increase the immunity of bees;

increase the brood rearing of bees;

increase the ability of bees to reproduce;

increase the ability of bees to detoxify harmful anthropogenic substances; or

a combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the bee feeding medium comprises:

one or more mushroom mycelium extracts;

one or more of water, honey, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, bee candy, nectar, pollen, pollen patties, grease patties, bee bread, propolis, bees wax, protein supplements, or combinations thereof; and

one or more preservatives.