To rid their bees of infestations with mites, apiarists needn’t use pesticides, thanks to a new idea from Finnish company Urpo Vainio (WO 03/037076).
A mirrored sheet is placed inside the beehive, with the surface angled to catch light coming into the hive from the opening through which the bees enter the hive. This confuses them and they rush at the mirror, where they hit a protective mesh suspended in front of it. The shock of impact detaches the mites, which fall down through the mesh onto a tray, which is periodically pulled out and cleaned by the beekeeper.…
