What is a bumblebee hive for at a summer cottage
How popular is the bumblebee hive? Bees are considered a widespread standard of hard work. Gardeners are often faced with pollination problems, especially in conditions of prolonged rain or frost. And they inevitably come to the conclusion that bees are not the most ideal workers.
Bumblebee - that is who works without folding their wings, indifferent to temperature drops and the dark time of day. The results of his labors are visible from the first month.
Bumblebee facts
Pros of bumblebees:
- Bumblebees are cold-resistant. They have a dense protective coating of thick hairs and the ability to heat up independently. Thanks to this, bumblebees are able to start pollination at a temperature of 5-8 ° C.
- Practically not aggressive towards humans. They attack only in case of danger.
- Pollinates a wide range of crops, less selective than other insects.
- They are well oriented in the dark, due to which they fly out for pollination outside daylight hours.
Bumblebee breeding goals
Bumblebee breeding has two main goals:
- Pollination. This is the main purpose of bumblebee breeding. With their help, productivity increases. They willingly produce pollination not only in open garden plots, but also in greenhouses and greenhouses.
- Business. Making a profit from a bumblebee hive is quite possible if there are interested clients.
Bumblebees produce honey, but due to the bumblebee's lifespan (from spring to autumn), they do not stockpile. Their honey highly saturated with proteins and minerals. But a large percentage of water does not contribute to its long-term storage. Therefore, honey collection is not the main reason for breeding, but is a pleasant bonus.
Instructions on how to make a bumblebee hive
Regardless of the goals of bumblebee breeding, the main, step-by-step technology stands out.
A bumblebee is purchased or created that meets the following requirements:
- the structure should have a removable bottom and roof for timely cleaning and relocation;
- inside you need a covering material: cellulose wool, moss, dry grass;
- openings for ventilation and feed should be provided.
The size is determined based on the needs. When bumblebees are bred at home for pollination, the size of the hive depends on the area of the site. For sale, it is worth preparing several options at once for the possible requests of future buyers.
Hive located in the shade, with a tap hole to the south. The pegs for its installation must be treated with solid oil to prevent attacks of ants. Hives are placed in a row or in tiers, a distance of at least 2 meters.
The uterus is inhabited. You can catch it yourself, or you can buy it at a bumblebee farm. For those who decide to go the first way, you should know that you need to look for the uterus at the beginning of spring. Females are large enough in comparison with males, circling low above the ground, in search of a nesting place.
When catching the uterus, attention is paid to the absence of pollen on the hind legs. This indicates that the uterus has not yet chosen its nest.
The captured uterus is placed in an already prepared hive. She is provided with peace and high-protein nutrition. The uterus must lay the nest and prepare for reproduction.
Then the family is completed. Drones and bumblebees are required.After combining the uterus with drones and workers, the air in the hive is saturated with carbon dioxide, which stimulates reproductive functions. When the fertilization process is completed, all infertile uterus are discarded. With the appearance of larvae, the family is considered complete.
It is imperative to monitor the cleanliness of the bumblebee hive, to cleanse dead individuals and other contaminants that contribute to the reproduction of parasites.
End of the season
With the onset of autumn, the bumblebee family ceases to exist. Male bumblebees die, and queens scatter in search of wintering places. In order not to start all over again next year, it is recommended to arrange winter conditions for them in advance.
Males separate and transfer to another hive. The queens are fattened, then, without interrupting the feeding, are placed in a container with a piece of disinfected peat. The container is placed in a refrigerator with an initial temperature of 20 ° C. Gradually, within two weeks, it decreases to 5 ° C. As soon as the queen is buried in peat for wintering, the temperature is set at 1 ° C and maintained until spring, when the cycle repeats again. An empty hive must be cleaned and disinfected.
Features of breeding bumblebees for sale
If bumblebee breeding is considered as a business idea, then the following points are thought out in advance:
- Sales market. Ways of finding clients are preliminarily considered, and the conditions for implementation are determined.
- Provides for the need to transport families in small hives. Accordingly, additional, free hives and packaging and shipping materials are being prepared.
- The cost of the initial investment is calculated.
Bumblebee wax and honey are a nice addition. They are highly regarded, and their implementation brings substantial income. When the question of the profitability of breeding insects is pondered, the use of bumblebees for pollination of their own plot is immediately envisaged. Then, if the business does not generate income, the increased yields will pay off the initial costs.
Features of breeding bumblebees for pollination
In the case of bumblebees breeding in garden plots for pollination, such a variant of the hive as a bombidarium may also be useful.
Wild bumblebees prefer minks thrown by small rodents. These minks can be easily imitated. A shallow hole is dug to fit the size of the box, which is internally arranged as a ground hive. A flight tube is inserted into the box, which is connected to the tap hole. All seams are plastered over, the pipe and the box are covered with a layer of earth and covered with turf.