WO2024201376A2 - Distributeur de biovecteurs d'abeilles - Google Patents

Distributeur de biovecteurs d'abeilles Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024201376A2
WO2024201376A2 PCT/IB2024/053040 IB2024053040W WO2024201376A2 WO 2024201376 A2 WO2024201376 A2 WO 2024201376A2 IB 2024053040 W IB2024053040 W IB 2024053040W WO 2024201376 A2 WO2024201376 A2 WO 2024201376A2
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
bee
biocontrol agent
exit
bees
dispensing device
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Ceased
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PCT/IB2024/053040
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WO2024201376A3 (fr
Inventor
Jaimee HARRIS
Michiel BRUGGEMAN
Martin VILLET
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Mwb Holdings Pty Ltd
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Mwb Holdings Pty Ltd
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Publication of WO2024201376A2 publication Critical patent/WO2024201376A2/fr
Publication of WO2024201376A3 publication Critical patent/WO2024201376A3/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K51/00—Appliances for treating beehives or parts thereof, e.g. for cleaning or disinfecting
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K47/00—Beehives

Definitions

  • the current invention relates to a biocontrol agent dispensing device for bee biovectors comprising a housing having an first passage with an entry and exit for bees to enter a hive wherein the first passage further comprises one-way flaps at the exit such that bees exiting hive can’t leave via the first passage, and a second passage with an entry and exit for bees to exit the hive wherein the biocontrol agent dispensing device further comprises, above the second passage, a mesh layer onto which a biocontrol agent powder may be loaded, such that in use, as bees exit through the second passage their movement disturbs the powder and it falls onto their bodies and the second passage floor, thereby coating the bees.
  • the invention further relates to a method for delivery of a biocontrol agent to plants with the use of the bee biovector dispenser device.
  • Biovectoring makes use of the ability of insects to transfer products like pollen and pathogens between places. Because of their morphology and behaviour, bees make good biovectors for transferring biopesticides and other biocontrol agents that they carry on their bodies to target plants, and have been used outside Africa for this purpose.
  • Apis mellifera Linnaeus (honey bee; Hymenoptera: Apidae) was used as a biovector to disseminate Erwinia amylovora Burril (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriacea), a pathogen of pears and apples, but also vector a biocontrol agent of this bacteria, Pseudomonas fluorescens Klige (Pseudomonadales: Pseudomonadaceae).
  • honey bees were used as biovectors to transfer GHocladium catenulatum var. (Moniliaceae) to strawberries as an antagonist of Botrytis cineria Pers.
  • honey bees form a good alternative for a number of reasons. They are pollinators of many plants, there are large numbers of this species and they can be easily transported (within legislation) within their habitation, and they have a large foraging range, meaning they can effectively treat large fields of crops.
  • Biovectoring has many advantages over traditional methods of applying pesticides. Replacing spraying with bees will make pest control using biopesticides more efficient and save farmers time, effort and resources. This may increase the number of farmers using biopesticides and thereby reduce the usage of chemical pesticides. It will also have positive effects on many ecosystems (chemical pesticides have many non-target effects) and is highly beneficial to bees, as bees are negatively impacted by many current pesticides. The extent of these impacts is large as pesticides are one of the main causes of colony collapse. It is becoming increasingly important to provide an effective alternative to chemical control methods, due to the development of resistance to pesticides.
  • Any plant that is dependent on bee pollination is a potential candidate for bee-vectored biopesticide applications.
  • One example is wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton. (Ericacae)).
  • Bees play a large role in creating a good yield for this crop, by cross-pollinating and inducing fruit set. In most areas, wild blueberries are already farmed alongside managed bees. Wild blueberry yield is also negatively impacted by a number of fungal diseases, including Monilinia blight, Botrytis blight, Septoria leaf spot, grey mould and leaf rust (Delbridge et al. 2011 ).
  • Botrytis cinerea is the cause of two of these diseases (Botrytis blight and grey mould) and can be particularly damaging to blueberry yields, causing significant economic losses (Howatt 2005). Bees have been used to vector C. rosea, which has mycopathogenic effects against B. cinerea (Peng et al. 1992). However, application of this technology is currently hindered by technical issues with dispensers used. Getting the product onto the bee requires a dispenser. Typically such dispensers operate by placing a powder-based product containing the biopesticide in a tray at the entrance or exit of the bee hive. When the bee exits the hive, it traps the powder and product in its body hairs and subsequently transfers the product coating its body to the plants that it pollinates.
  • a biocontrol agent dispensing device for bee biovectors comprising:
  • a bee-hive receiving portion operably supporting a beehive where the bee-hive comprises an entrance/exit portal for bees to enter and exit the hive;
  • a substantially rectangular bioagent powder dispenser housing adjacent to the bee-hive receiving portion when present, comprising: A. a first, substantially rectangular, passage comprising a floor, two side-walls extending upwardly from the floor, and a roof, connecting a first bee entrance and a first bee exit, wherein the height of the first connecting passage is between about 20 mm to about 40 mm, or any height therebetween and the length of the first connecting passage is between about 100 mm to about 200 mm or any length therebetween, and wherein the first connecting passage comprises a plurality of elongate opaque blocks alternatingly extending upwardly from the floor of the first connecting passage and downwardly from the roof of the first connecting passage, such that a space between the top of each upwardly extending elongate block and the roof of the first connecting passage and between the bottom of each downwardly extending block and the floor of the first connecting passage is between about 5 to about 10 mm or any length therebetween, and wherein the first exit is in communication with a bee-hive
  • a second, substantially rectangular, connecting passage comprising a floor, two side-walls extending upwardly from the floor and a roof, comprising a second bee entrance and a second bee exit
  • the height of the second connecting passage is between about 4 mm to about 10 mm or any height therebetween and the length of the second connecting passage is between about 150 mm to about 250 mm or any length therebetween
  • the second entrance is in communication with the bee-hive entrance/exit portal such that bees exiting the hive move through the second bee exit, along the second connecting passage and to the outside through the second bee exit;
  • a substantially rectangular, optionally removable, mesh layer having a mesh size of between about 200,000 nm to about 2,000,000 nm or any size therebetween, and therefore capable of dispensably supporting a biocontrol agent or mixture of biocontrol agents in powder form for dispensing onto bees moving along the second connecting passage to the second bee exit; and (iii) situated above the second connecting passage and removable mesh layer, and operably in contact with the biovector powder dispenser housing, a lid covering the second connecting passage and removable mesh layer.
  • the second connecting passage may further comprise one or more internal walls or supports of the same height as the second connecting passage, thereby dividing the second connecting passage into, for example, two, three, or four passages connecting the second bee entrance and the second bee exit.
  • the one or more internal walls or supports may be parallel relative to each other and the second connecting passage walls.
  • the internal walls or supports may define three passages connecting the second bee entrance and the second bee exit each passage having a width of about 110 mm.
  • the number and width of passages formed by the internal walls or supports may be different and selected as desired by one skilled in the art.
  • the mesh layer may be supported by the second connecting passage and/or the internal walls or supports thereof.
  • the mesh layer may be inlaid within the perimeter of the second connecting passage and supported by the internal walls or supports thereof.
  • the biovector powder dispenser housing may comprise a substantially water-proof seal between the lid and housing such as a foam, rubber or similar water-proof seal such that when in a closed position, the lid connects with the housing preventing water from entering the biovector powder dispenser housing, thereby to water-proof the biocontrol agent dispensing device from rain and ensure that the biocontrol agent powder, when present, does not get wet.
  • a substantially water-proof seal between the lid and housing such as a foam, rubber or similar water-proof seal such that when in a closed position, the lid connects with the housing preventing water from entering the biovector powder dispenser housing, thereby to water-proof the biocontrol agent dispensing device from rain and ensure that the biocontrol agent powder, when present, does not get wet.
  • the lid may be a hollow, triangular pyramid-shaped lid, angled to provide for run-off of rain water or dew and sized to cover the second connecting passage and mesh layer of the biovector powder dispenser housing, where one side of the base of the pyramid is hingedly connected to one side of the housing and when in a closed position, the apex of the pyramid connects with the opposite side of the housing.
  • the biocontrol agent dispensing device may optionally include a biocontrol agent powder capture device comprising a plurality of flat elongate slats, for example two, three, four or five slats sized to extend into the biovector powder dispenser which slots into the housing of the biocontrol agent dispensing device below the mesh layer and below the lid.
  • Biocontrol agent is added after the biocontrol agent powder capture device is in position under the mesh layer by opening the lid of the biocontrol agent dispensing device to add the biocontrol agent powder onto the mesh. Excess powder that falls through the mesh lands on the elongate slats of the biocontrol agent powder capture device rather than on the floor of the second connecting passage and can be removed by removing the biocontrol agent powder capture device.
  • the first entrance may further comprise a lip for bees to land prior to entering the first entrance.
  • the lip may be comprised of a translucent plastic, more particularly poly(methyl methacrylate) also known as Perspex®.
  • the second exit may further comprise a lip affixed to the top of the second connecting passage and extending downwardly at an acute angle of between about 40 to about 80 degrees, or any angle therebetween.
  • the lip may be hingedly attached such that it may be it may be reversibly moved in the direction (A) by a user as desired.
  • the lip may be comprised of a translucent plastic, more particularly poly(methyl methacrylate) also known as Perspex®.
  • the angled lip prevents bees from entering through the second exit.
  • the translucent plastic provides more light to enter the second passage and encourages the bees to move toward the second exit and the light outside.
  • the one-way flaps may be made from a transparent or translucent material including a plastic. Preferably they are made from a transparent material.
  • a method for delivery of a biocontrol agent to one or more plant(s) by a bee biovector with the use of the biocontrol agent dispensing device of the invention in communication with a beehive comprising:
  • biocontrol agent coated bee(s) delivering the biocontrol agent to one or more plants when pollinating one or more flowers of the plant(s).
  • the method may comprise a step of inserting a biocontrol agent powder capture device into the biocontrol agent dispensing device of the invention below the mesh layer followed by opening the lid and loading one or more biocontrol agent powder(s) onto the mesh such that excess biocontrol agent powder(s) that falls through the mesh is captured by the biocontrol agent powder capture device rather than landing in the second passage, and can be removed by sliding the biocontrol agent powder capture device out of the biocontrol agent dispensing device of the invention.
  • the plant may be any plant that is pollinated by bees. Many such plants are known to those skilled in the art.
  • biocontrol agent dispensing device substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the illustrated embodiments.
  • Figure 1 shows a photograph of the bioagent powder dispenser of the invention from the direction of the bee-hive receiving portion towards the bioagent powder dispenser housing portion, with the lid of the bioagent powder dispenser being in the closed position;
  • Figure 2 shows a photograph of the bioagent powder dispenser of the invention from above, with the lid in the open position and the mesh in place, along with the capture device placed alongside the bioagent powder dispenser;
  • Figure 3 shows a photograph of the bioagent powder dispenser of the invention from the direction of the second bee exit, with the lid of the bioagent powder dispenser being in the closed position;
  • Figure 4 shows a graphical illustration of a cross-sectional view of the bioagent powder dispenser of the invention.
  • Figure 5 shows a graphical representation of and exploded perspective view of the bioagent powder dispenser.
  • the current invention relates to a biocontrol agent dispensing device for bee biovectors comprising a housing having an first passage with an entry and exit for bees to enter a hive, and a second passage with an entry and exit for bees to exit the hive wherein the second passage further comprises one-way flaps at the entry such that bees entering the second passage cannot return to the hive and wherein the biocontrol agent dispensing device further comprises, above the second passage, a mesh layer onto which a biocontrol agent powder may be loaded, such that in use, as bees exit through the second passage their movement disturbs the powder and it falls onto their bodies and the second passage floor, thereby coating the bees.
  • the invention further relates to a method for delivery of a biocontrol agent to plants with the use of the bee biovector dispenser device.
  • MAIN ISSUE Refill time > one day Efficiency necessary for a commercial product, refilling many dispensers daily takes a lot of time and effort
  • the powder needs to remain on the bee until it cleaned off by the hygienic honey bee reaches the flower Loaded onto an area of the bee that The powder needs to be deposited on the flower in any makes contact with the target plant when cropping system. the bee lands to collect nectar and pollen and is not specific to a single cropping system
  • flaps that the bees pass through were attached to the entrance of a prototype dispenser in such a way that the bees could push them open to pass into the hive but could no longer exit through the entrance.
  • a device was developed that allowed for the bees to be confined in a small area and presented with the flaps and their behaviour was noted (passing through the flaps or remaining in the confined area). Ten bees were sampled and the proportion of bees that moved through the flaps were recorded.
  • Flaps of varying thickness (0.040 mm, 0.111 mm, 0.119 mm, 0.140 mm) and transparency (translucent and transparent) were tested.
  • the first flaps tested were translucent. To eliminate the chance that the bees did not pass through the flaps because they were translucent, transparent flaps were used in the rest of the tests.
  • the first transparent flaps were 0.140 mm, increasingly thinner flaps were then used until the bees were able to pass through. Flaps were measured using a micrometre screw gauge (Moore & Wright, model 200-01 , 0.01 mm precision).
  • the morphology of the African honey bee was also incorporated into the design of the prototype dispensers by considering the bee space and cell size of Apis mellifera scutellata (Faji et al. 2018). Bees commonly found in South Africa are from the subspecies capensis or scutellata, or are hybrids of these two subspecies (Steele et al 1998). However, there is very little available information of the bee space and cell size of these bees. The average size of A. mellifera capensis bees is very similar to that of A. mellifera scutellata bees (Faji et al 2018; Hepburn & Crewe 1991 ), so information from this subspecies was used to determine the exit height for the prototype dispensers.
  • Bee space should allow for two bees to easily pass each other, while a single bee should just be able to fit into the cell space.
  • the applicant has found that the ideal height of the exit path of a dispenser should lie somewhere between the cell diameter and half the distance of the bee space to ensure that the bee makes contact with both sides of the exit channel, and therefore gets powder on both sides of its body, but does not struggle to fit through the pathway.
  • Bee space for the South African subspecies van vary, but generally lies between 6-10mm.
  • the design of the dispensers was made with the exit path representing bee space at 10 mm and the hive exit height was lowered to 5 mm to ensure that the dispenser was tailored for South African bees, so that they acquired powder on both the dorsal and ventral sides of their bodies.
  • the prototype dispensers were observed after two days of being attached to identify any issues.
  • the number of bees leaving the exit, entering the exit, entering the entrance and leaving the entrance were recorded in one minute intervals. This was repeated 30 times over 3 days (10 random times per day) and the results were recorded. These tests were only carried out on warm days so that an adequate number of bees were leaving and entering to make the test feasible.
  • the proportion of bees exiting the exit and entering the entrance were then calculated to compensate for the effect of the weather on the bees.
  • a general linear model was run in Statistica (TIBCO Software Inc. 2018) to determine if the powder had a significant effect on the movement of the bees, and whether any dispensers were working better than others in terms of the bees entering and exiting via the correct areas.
  • Ramp added onto the entrance to limit the to avoid putting the hive at risk. light entering the hive from the entrance to decrease the likelihood of bees leaving via the entrance
  • Dispenser 6 a number of bees were observed flying into the exit and turning around and flying out when they made contact with the powder.
  • Table 3 Results of Tukey’s post hoc tests done on the data of bees entering through the entrance, showing the p-values for each dispenser compared to others.
  • Dispenser s Dispenser s
  • Dispenser 7 0.000022 0.000023
  • Table 4 Results of Tukey’s post hoc tests done on the data of bees leaving through the exit showing the p-values for each dispenser compared to others.
  • Dispenser s Dispenser s
  • Dispenser 7 0.000107 0.006800 Bees failed to make contact with both sides of the exit channel in Dispensers 1 -6. After the reduction in exit path height in Dispenser 7, bees made contact with both sides, increasing powder load (statistical results not shown). The dispensers created in this study have a much longer refill period than dispensers that have been previously reported on. Dispenser 7 can hold roughly 11 times as much powder as many of the previous dispensers. Clumping was minimal and only became a problem after days where there was rain. In the flap tests, all 10 bees were able to push through the thinnest flaps (0.040 mm). The bees failed to push through the 0.140 mm, 0.119 mm and 0.111 mm flaps in all of the repetitions.
  • Dispenser 7 was able to hold roughly 11 times as much powder as many of the current dispensers, meaning that it will last 11 times as long and need to be refilled far less frequently. Dispenser 7 loaded the bees with a large amount of product (statistical results not shown), without the ability of the bees to fly being hindered. Regardless, the amount of powder on the bee can be easily adjusted by changing the size of the mesh in the applicant’s dispenser.
  • Dispenser 7 was also designed such that clumping of the biovector powder was minimal, as the powder is kept in a box above the exit, and only a small amount is knocked down each time a bee passes through.
  • the powder on the exit path is constantly replaced as the bees exit and never builds up to be too thick, meaning that is does not accumulate moisture and clump.
  • the powder inside the box does not come into contact with the bees until it is knocked down, so does not accumulate moisture from the bees which has previously been an issue (Kovach 1999).
  • the applicant’s dispensers also have no movable parts and do not require input from a user until the powder is finished, while being easy to attach to the hive. This means maintenance costs are low and efficiency is high.
  • the results of the tests that looked at the number of bees entering the entrance and exiting the exit gave good insight into the effect of the powder on the bees’ behaviour.
  • Dispenser 7 was designed to decrease the number of bees exiting and entering incorrectly.
  • the height of the exit path was decreased to match the average height of an African honey bee. This increased the amount of powder knocked down and therefore deposited on each bee, while decreasing the number of bees using the exit channel as an entrance. This was effective as it was more difficult for the bees to fly into the small gap and more powder was present around the exit, making it less attractive to the bees from the outside.
  • Thin 0.040 mm one-way flaps were also added to the entrance after the flap tests proved that the bees could push these open from the correct side.
  • Dispenser 7 the vast majority of bees exited and entered from the correct channels, increasing efficiency and decreasing wastage.
  • Dispenser 7 The applicant continued with development of Dispenser 7 to design a further iteration of the dispenser for commercial use.
  • the design of the dispenser for commercial use includes the following changes relative to Dispenser 7.
  • the mesh sheet used has been changed and can be a polymer plastic or metal mesh
  • the mesh sheet is now removable •
  • the biocontrol agent powder filling method has been modified from having to remove the dispenser and invert it to add the powder, to inserting a removable slat into the dispenser below the mesh sheet layer, adding the biocontrol agent powder onto the mesh such that excess powder that falls through the mesh is captured by the removable slat which can then be removed with the excess powder, all while the dispenser remains on the hive
  • the height of the exit pathway has been to between about 4 mm - 10 mm
  • the biocontrol agent dispensing device (10) for bee biovectors comprises a bee-hive receiving portion (20) for supporting a bee-hive (38) where the bee-hive (38) comprises an entrance/exit portal for bees to enter and exit the hive (38).
  • the biocontrol agent dispensing device (10) comprises a substantially rectangular bioagent powder dispenser housing, adjacent to the bee-hive receiving portion (20) when present, comprising a first, substantially rectangular, passage (34) comprising a floor, two side-walls extending upwardly from the floor, and a roof and comprising a first bee entrance (32) and a first bee exit (16) wherein the height of the first connecting passage (34) is between about 20 and about 40 mm and the length of the first connecting passage (34) between the first bee entrance (32) and first bee exit (16) is between about 100 to about 200 mm, more typically between about 120 to about 160 mm.
  • the first exit (16) is in communication with a bee-hive entrance/exit portal when in operation such that bees fly from the outside into the first entrance (32) and move along the first connecting passage (34), then exit through the first exit (16) into the bee-hive.
  • the first connecting passage (34) comprises a number of elongate blocks (40) made from an opaque material extending alternatingly upwardly from the floor or extending downwardly from the roof of the first connecting passage (34) such that the bees that enter through the first entrance (32) walk up and over the elongate blocks (40) and along the first connecting passage (34) towards the hive (38).
  • the space between the top of each upwardly extending elongate block (40) and the roof of the first connecting passage (34) and between the bottom of each downwardly extending block (40) and the floor of the first connecting passage (34) is between about 7 to about 10 mm.
  • the elongate blocks are typically between about 10 mm to about 33 mm in height x 8.5 mm width x 8.5 mm depth.
  • the opaque elongate blocks (40) function to block the light from the outside from entering the hive (38) through the first exit (16) so that bees inside the hive (38) do not try to leave the hive through the first connecting passage (34) due to being attracted to the light.
  • the first exit (16) comprises a plurality of plastic one-way flaps (18) affixed to an upper portion thereof, extending downwards towards the floor of the first connecting passage (34), the flaps (18) having a thickness of between about 0.020 mm to about 0.119 mm, or about 0.040 mm to about 0.111 mm, or about 0.020 mm to about 0.060, whereby bees exiting the first connecting passage (34) through the one-way flaps (18) or exiting the hive (38) cannot re-enter the first connecting passage (34).
  • a second, substantially rectangular, connecting passage (36) comprising a floor and two side-walls extending upwardly from the floor, comprising a second bee entrance (14) from the hive (38) and a second bee exit (28), wherein the height of the second connecting passage (36) is between about 4 mm to about 10 mm and the length of the second connecting passage (36) is between about 150 and about 250 mm between the second bee entrance (14), and the second bee exit (28), wherein the second bee entrance (14) is in communication with the bee-hive entrance/exit portal such that bees exiting the hive (38) move through the second bee entrance (14), along the second connecting passage (36) and to the outside through the second bee exit (28); and
  • a substantially rectangular, optionally removable, mesh layer (24) Situated above the second connecting passage (36) and forming the roof of the second connecting passage (36) is a substantially rectangular, optionally removable, mesh layer (24) having a mesh size of between about 200,000 nm to about 2,000,000 nm and therefore capable of dispensably supporting a biocontrol agent or mixture of biocontrol agents in powder form for dispensing onto bees moving along the second connecting passage (36) to the second bee exit (28).
  • a hinged lid (12) covering the second connecting passage (36) and removable mesh layer (24).
  • the mesh layer (24) may be supported by the second connecting passage and/or the internal walls or supports thereof.
  • the mesh layer may be inlaid within the perimeter of the second connecting passage (36) and supported by the internal walls or supports thereof.
  • the biovector powder dispenser housing may comprise a substantially water-proof seal (22) between the lid (12) and housing such as a foam, rubber or similar waterproof seal such that when in a closed position, the lid (12) connects with the housing preventing water from entering the biovector powder dispenser housing, thereby to water-proof the biocontrol agent dispensing device from rain and ensure that the biocontrol agent powder, when present, does not get wet.
  • the lid (12) may be a hollow, triangular pyramid-shaped lid such that the angle of the lid allows for rain or dew water run-off.
  • the lid (12) is sized to cover the second connecting passage (36) and mesh layer (24) of the biovector powder dispenser housing, where one side of the base of the pyramid is hingedly connected to one side of the housing and when in a closed position, the apex of the pyramid connects with the opposite side of the housing.
  • the biocontrol agent dispensing device (10) may optionally include a biocontrol agent powder capture device (26) comprising a plurality of flat, elongate slats which, in operation, slots into the housing of the biocontrol agent dispensing device below the mesh layer (24) and onto which excess biocontrol agent powder may be captured.
  • a biocontrol agent powder capture device (26) comprising a plurality of flat, elongate slats which, in operation, slots into the housing of the biocontrol agent dispensing device below the mesh layer (24) and onto which excess biocontrol agent powder may be captured.
  • Biocontol agent powder can be added to the biocontrol agent dispensing device (10) by slotting the capture device (26) into the biovector powder dispenser underneath the mesh layer (24), then opening the lid (12) and adding the biocontrol agent powder onto the mesh such that most of the powder that is not retained on top of the mesh layer (24) lands onto the capture device (26) rather than into the second connecting passage. Once loaded, the capture device (26) holding the excess powder is slid out of the biovector powder dispenser. It is also possible, when the biocontrol agent dispensing device (10) is not in operation, for the capture device (26) to be stored in the slotted position under the mesh layer in the biovector powder dispenser.
  • the second exit (28) may further comprise a lip (30) affixed to the roof of the second connecting passage (36) and extending inwardly at an acute angle.
  • the lip (30) may be hingedly attached such that it may be reversably moved in the direction (A) by a user as desired.
  • the lip (30) may be moved inwardly in the direction (A) such that lies flat against the roof of the second connecting passage (36) for insertion of the biocontrol agent powder capture device (26) and then once the capture device (26) has been withdrawn, the lip (30) can be moved back to its original position.
  • the lip (30) may be comprised of a translucent plastic, more particularly poly(methyl methacrylate) also known as Perspex®.
  • the acutely angled lip (30) prevents bees from entering through the second exit (28).
  • the translucent plastic provides more light to enter the second connecting passage (36) and encourages the bees to move toward the second exit (28) and the light outside.
  • the one-way flaps (18) may be made from a transparent or translucent material including a plastic. Preferably they are made from a transparent material.
  • test product a biofungicide having active ingredients Ampelomyces quisqualis and GHocladium catenulatum
  • a test product a biofungicide having active ingredients Ampelomyces quisqualis and GHocladium catenulatum
  • Biological fungicidal agents or biofungicides are beneficial microorganisms formulated into a product that, when sprayed onto a plant, impair fungal pathogen development (Kilian & Steiner 2003).
  • Ampelomyces quisqualis is a parasitic fungus that has antagonistic effects against a variety of fungal pathogens.
  • A. quisqualisis has been shown to produce a biosurfactant that affects the surface tension of water droplets on plants.
  • GHocladium spp. are antagonistic against many pathogens, including Botrytis spp, and have been shown to prevent sporulation of Botrytis (Kohl 2004).
  • This active ingredient has been used extensively in strawberries for the control of grey mold. Greenhouse trials have demonstrated that G. catenulatum vectored by bumblebees can reduce Botrytis infection and improve shelf-life of strawberries, resulting more sustainable control with healthier strawberries with fewer residues (Kohl 2004).
  • Test 1 To test if bees effectively transferred a test product from inside the dispenser onto blueberry flowers, five healthy blueberry plants were grown inside a tunnel including a hive and a dispenser containing a fluorescent coloured dye powder for delivery to the plants. The dye was placed in the dispenser after one day of the bees getting used to the dispenser. That night the bushes were observed with a UV torch to visually detect traces of the fluorescent coloured dye powder on the flowers.
  • the first test group of blueberry plants had biofungicide powder applied in a spray formulation in accordance with the current conventional application.
  • the second test group of blueberry plants had the biofungicide powder applied to each flower with a paintbrush in a dry formulation. This was to rule out lack of moisture as a cause for the biofungicide product not activating.
  • the third test group of blueberry plants was placed inside a tunnel including a hive with a dispenser according to the invention containing the dry powdered biofungicide product. Lack of Botrytis in this test group would show that the bees effectively transferred the biofungicide product to the flowers.
  • the final group of blueberry plants was a negative control group. These blueberry plants served to show that lack of Botrytis infection was not due to any other variables and was in fact due to the biofungicide product applied in the tests above.
  • Test 2 Five blueberry plants sprayed with a liquid formulation of the biofungicide product Five blueberry plants dusted with the dry biofungicide product
  • the fluorescent powder was found in high concentrations on all of the blueberry plants inside the tunnel.
  • the trial (Test 2) was successful in showing that the biofungicide product dry formulation is effective at preventing infection with Botrytis in the blueberries. Furthermore, the trials (Tests 1 and 2) showed that the bees can effectively transfer a dry product to the blueberry flowers via the dispenser.
  • the biofungicide product had a negligible effect on the health of the bees.
  • the hives used in the trial continued to grow in strength during and after the trial. No bee mortalities were observed within the hives.
  • the only cause of bee mortality in the trial was the effect of the netting in our trial tunnel on the navigation system of the bees causing a large number of forager bees to die in the corner of the net structure.
  • a further embodiment of the bee biovector dispenser comprising a 50 housing or beehive for receiving a 52 lid with a piercing section for a 54 dispensing tray, where the dispensing tray 54 is for reloading the powder. Further included is a 56 mesh; a 58 walkway for the bees or the exit frame and an 60 entrance frame for the hive.
  • This design has the advantages summarised below.
  • a bracket 62 is also provided. Firstly, application of powder to the bees is done from above via a mesh 56 when the bees walk under the mesh 56 the powder falls through coating them on the top of their bodies but also falling to the floor and therefore coating them on the underside of their bodies as they walk through.
  • One way flaps are provided on return as the hive the bees have to pass through a one way flap. This prevents the bees from exiting from the entrance pathway and avoiding the powder.
  • Light blocking steps are provided as the return path include blocks on alternating sides (top and bottom) that serve to block out the light entering into the hive from this pathway. This helps to further regulate the flow of the bees into the entrance and out of the exit.
  • a loading system which is capable of involving dispensing trays that are pierced by the lid when closing to release the product onto the mesh 56.
  • DELBRIDGE R., ROGERS, D., BURGESS, P. & WOOD, S. 2011 . Wild blueberry insect & disease management schedule. AgraPoint International Incorporated, Kentville.
  • HEPBURN H.R. & CREWE, R.M., 1991. Portrait of the Cape honeybee, Apis mellifera capensis. Apidologie 22(6): 567-580.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Husbandry (AREA)
  • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
  • Pretreatment Of Seeds And Plants (AREA)
  • Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif de distribution d'agent de lutte biologique pour des biovecteurs d'abeilles comprenant un boîtier ayant un premier passage avec une entrée et une sortie pour que des abeilles entrent dans une ruche, le premier passage comprenant en outre des rabats unidirectionnels au niveau de la sortie de telle sorte que les abeilles sortant de la ruche ne peuvent pas sortir par l'intermédiaire du premier passage, et un second passage avec une entrée et une sortie pour que les abeilles sortent de la ruche, le dispositif de distribution d'agent de lutte biologique comprenant en outre, au-dessus du second passage, une couche de maille sur laquelle une poudre d'agent de lutte biologique peut être chargée, de telle sorte que, lors de l'utilisation, lorsque les abeilles sortent par l'intermédiaire du second passage, leur mouvement perturbe la poudre et celle-ci tombe sur leurs corps et le plancher du second passage, ce qui recouvre les abeilles. L'invention concerne en outre un procédé d'administration d'un agent de lutte biologique à des plantes à l'aide du dispositif de distribution de biovecteur d'abeille.
PCT/IB2024/053040 2023-03-29 2024-03-28 Distributeur de biovecteurs d'abeilles Ceased WO2024201376A2 (fr)

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ZA202303918 2023-03-29
ZA2023/03918 2023-03-29

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WO2024201376A2 true WO2024201376A2 (fr) 2024-10-03
WO2024201376A3 WO2024201376A3 (fr) 2025-01-02

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Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE570603A (fr) * 1957-08-23
US5989100A (en) * 1997-09-08 1999-11-23 Cornell Research Foundation, Inc. Bee disseminator of biological controls
US7138130B2 (en) * 2003-01-30 2006-11-21 S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Substrate for volatile delivery systems
EP2434871B1 (fr) * 2009-05-29 2014-03-12 Biobest Belgium NV Dispositif de dissémination monté dans une ruche
EP3843539B1 (fr) * 2018-08-28 2024-04-10 Turtle Bear Holdings, LLC Mangeoire pour abeilles dotée d'une entrée labyrinthique

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