BEE FEEDER HAVING LABYRINTHINE PASSAGES
A bee feeding apparatus having labyrinthine passages. The apparatus is useful for dispensing water, bee feeding supplements, or treatments to wild or domesticated bees. The circuitous entryway hinders or inhibits other insects such as wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets from entering the innermost regions of the feeder and accessing the bee feeding supplements.
1 . A bee feeding apparatus, comprising:
a base unit comprising a receptacle defining an interior atrium and comprising a bottom, a sidewall having a lower end in engagement with the bottom, and an open top;
one or more labyrinthine passages extending from the interior atrium to an exterior aperture, wherein each labyrinthine passage comprises at least one bend; and
a cover member positioned over the open top, the cover member covering the receptacle and the one or more labyrinthine passages.
2 . The bee feeding apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bend comprises an angle of about 90°.
3 . The bee feeding apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each labyrinthine passage comprises at least five bends of about 90°.
4 . The bee feeding apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a feeding medium dispensary positioned within the interior atrium.
5 . The bee feeding apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a feeding medium vessel that interfaces with the cover member and permits fluid communication between a feeding medium contained within the feeding medium vessel and the feeding medium dispensary.
6 . The bee feeding apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the cover member comprises:
a receptacle on an exterior surface of the cover member; and
an orifice extending through the cover member to permit fluid communication between the feeding medium vessel and the feeding medium dispensary.
7 . The bee feeding apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the receptacle comprises threads for securing the feeding medium vessel.
8 . The bee feeding apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover member comprises one or more securing mechanisms for affixing the cover member onto the base unit.
9 . The bee feeding apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base unit further comprises a one-way exit port leading from the interior atrium to an exterior of the base unit.
10 . The bee feeding apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more of:
a battery;
a solar panel;
a wireless internet receiver and transmitter;
a video camera;
a light source;
a counter mechanism;
a sonic emitting device;
a fragrance emitting device; or
a pollen sensor.
11 . The bee feeding apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more labyrinthine passages comprises a bottom and sidewalls having lower ends in engagement with the bottom.
12 . A bee feeding apparatus, comprising:
a base unit comprising a receptacle defining an interior atrium and comprising a bottom, a sidewall having a lower end in engagement with the bottom, and an open top;
one or more labyrinthine passages extending from the interior atrium to an exterior aperture, wherein each labyrinthine passage comprises a bottom and sidewalls having lower ends in engagement with the bottom, and wherein each labyrinthine passage comprises at least one approximately 90 degree bend;
a feeding medium dispensary disposed within the interior atrium;
a cover member positioned over the open top, the cover member covering the receptacle and the one or more labyrinthine passages; and
a feeding medium vessel that interfaces with the cover member and permits fluid communication between a feeding medium contained within the feeding medium vessel and the feeding medium dispensary within the base unit.
13 . The bee feeding apparatus of claim 12 , wherein each labyrinthine passage comprises at least five approximately 90 degree bends.
14 . The bee feeding apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the cover member comprises:
a receptacle on an exterior surface of the cover member;
threads within the receptacle for securing the feeding medium vessel; and
an orifice extending through the cover member to permit fluid communication between the feeding medium vessel and the feeding medium dispensary.
15 . The bee feeding apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a gasket positioned within the receptacle for sealing between the cover member and the feeding medium vessel.
16 . The bee feeding apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the base unit further comprises a one-way exit port leading from the interior atrium to an exterior of the base unit.
17 . The bee feeding apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising one or more of:
a battery;
a solar panel;
a wireless internet receiver and transmitter;
a video camera;
a light source;
a counter mechanism;
a sonic emitting device;
a fragrance emitting device; or
a pollen sensor.
18 . A method for feeding bees, comprising:
providing a bee feeding apparatus comprising a base unit having an interior atrium, one or more labyrinthine passages extending from the interior atrium to an exterior aperture, wherein each labyrinthine passage comprises at least one bend, and a cover member positioned over the base unit;
disposing a bee feeding medium within the interior atrium; and
permitting bees to traverse the one or more labyrinthine passages to access the bee feeding medium in the interior atrium, wherein the one or more labyrinthine passages hinder wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets from accessing the bee feeding medium.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one bend comprises an angle of about 90°, and wherein each labyrinthine passage comprises at least five bends of about 90°.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
monitoring bee visits to the bee feeding apparatus using a counter mechanism or a video camera; and
recording the bee visits.