Honeybee swarm trap
View Patent ↗A Honeybee Swarm Trap to provide an inexpensive but sturdy bee box for keeping bees that is flexible in its application. To propagate beehives a beekeeper commonly uses a swarm catcher. These swarm catchers are placed near existing beehives, typically those naturally occurring, a swarm trap may be placed near the location of original beehive. Scout bees can visit the swarm trap and assess the trap for a swarm or propagated swarm to take up residence. Once the honeybee swarm take up residence in the swarm trap, the beekeeper can move the swarm to another location to house the honeybee colony.
1 . A honeybee swarm trap comprising:
a honeybee trap box;
a front hole positioned on a front surface of the honeybee trap box;
a back hole positioned on a back surface of the honeybee trap box, wherein the front hole and the back hole are removable semi-punched kidney shaped holes;
a lower hinged door configured to be positioned in one of a lower door open position or a lower door closed position;
an upper hinged door configured to be positioned in one of an upper door open position or an upper door closed position;
a rotatable, concave vent disc configured to mate and seal against an outer surface of a body of the honeybee trap box;
wherein approximately one-third of a surface of the rotatable, concave vent disc comprises multiple vent apertures, another approximately one-third of the surface of the rotatable, concave vent disc comprises a single aperture, and the remaining approximately one-third of the surface of the rotatable, concave vent disc comprises no apertures;
wherein the rotatable, concave vent disc can be rotated relative to the front hole to form an open position, a partially open position, and a closed position;
an outer lid with an integral hinge, wherein the outer lid comprises a first removable pre-punched feeder jar opening configured for a feeder jar;
an inner lid comprising an additional removable pre-punched feeder jar opening, wherein the additional removable pre-punched feeder jar opening includes one or more fold back spacer flaps, wherein the one or more fold back spacer flaps rotate about an axis to form one of a feeder open position or a feeder closed position;
one or more integral locking tabs;
a plurality of semi-punched slots for threading securing straps through a bottom of the honeybee trap box;
a plurality of corner supports disposed at inside corners inside the honeybee trap box;
a center support disposed horizontally inside the honeybee trap box; and
a removable floor located inside the honeybee trap box, wherein the removable floor is solid, wherein the plurality of corner supports support a plurality of corners of the removable floor and the center support supports a center portion of the removable floor;
wherein the removable floor is positioned between the lower hinged door and the upper hinged door at a height above a bottom surface of the honeybee trap box, wherein the lower hinged door is in the lower door closed position and the upper hinged door is in the upper door open position to prevent bees from entering the lower hinged door.
2 . The honeybee swarm trap described in claim 1 comprising:
the honeybee trap box that is manufactured from corrugated or polymeric material or other weather resistant material that when assembled is held in place with screws and retaining buttons on a folded corner with flat spring clips, screws, and buttons or sonic welds.
3 . The honeybee swarm trap described in claim 2 comprising:
the one or more integral locking tabs comprising two integral locking tabs;
straps to further secure the outer lid with the integral hinge;
an adjustable strap buckle;
a slot for one of the one or more integral locking tabs;
a lid locking slot; and
the front hole comprised of a semi punched screw hole.
4 . The honeybee swarm trap described in claim 3 comprising:
one or more semi punched locking tabs;
the inner lid with an integral hinge; and
a feeder jar spacer.
5 . The honeybee swarm trap described in claim 4 comprising:
two frame rests, one for each end of the honeybee trap box;
the outer lid comprised of integral folded collars; and
a hole for securing screw.
6 . The honeybee swarm trap described in claim 1 comprising:
the one or more integral locking tabs comprising two integral locking tabs;
straps to further secure the outer lid with the integral hinge;
an adjustable strap buckle;
a slot for one of the one or more integral locking tabs;
a lid locking slot; and
the front hole comprised of a semi punched screw hole.
7 . The honeybee swarm trap described in claim 1 comprising:
one or more semi punched locking tabs;
the inner lid with an integral hinge; and
a feeder jar spacer.
8 . The honeybee swarm trap described in claim 1 comprising:
two frame rests, one for each end of the honeybee trap box;
the outer lid comprised of integral folded collars; and
a hole for securing screw.