The KÔNYA beehive with rotating of broodnest frame (2004)

 



An Hungarian invention, a new technology modernizing apiculture

Its aims:

  • making the work of beekeepers easier
  • increasing the efficiency of honey production
  • killing mites without chemicals (by an innocuous method)

Its principle:

  • The recognition that gravity has a fondamental effect on the life and reproduction of mites and influences the bees' certain actions, too.
  • The main features of the hive:
  • It prevents the reproduction of Varroa mites in the sealed brood cells.

The Varroa mite orientates itself by the help of gravity and sense of smell. In this manner it finds the site suitable for feeding on the body of the bee-pupa, and posits its eggs on the most secure, upper part of the cell.

The frames of the broodnest are circular and rotate by 180 degrees at a determined pace. The alteration of up and down stops the quiet conditions necessary for the reproduction of the mite. Because of the loss of their orientation mites cannot continue their lives according to the rules programmed in their genes. Therefore, their oviposition and reproduction become impossible.

In the hive with rotating frame of broodnest the chemical protection against the mite is unnecessary during the whole honey season. Hence, high quality honey without chemical residues can be produced.

It prevents swarming
In building the swarming cell bees also orientate themselves by the help of gravitation: they always build it from above. In the hives with rotating frame of broodnest because of the periodical rotation the bee family can build only the base of the swarming cell. They cannot raise a queen-bee and they cannot swarm. A single rotation in a day does not disturb the bees. After the rotation the hive can be opened, if necessary In spite of the rotation the bees build the foundation perfectly.

It gives a mechanized and electronic method for treating bee families and thus makes the work of beekeepers easier.

In a round frame of broodnest bees put honey over the brood. After the rotation this honey gets to the exit of the hive and the bees save it to the honey-box. These freshly cleaned cells are readily oviposited by the queen, so the whole area of the round frame will be taken up by broods.

The beekeeper is not obliged to intervene in the system (e.g. to remove the honey from the broodnest or to arrange the broodnest), the honey and the broods become separated from each other due to the rotation. (The broods remain in the broodnest and the honey remains in the honey-box.) The work of the beekeeper is reduced to the occasional quick controlling of the families and to removing honey.

By this new method professional beekeepers can increase the number of families to 1,000. The beehive with rotating frame of broodnest is powered by a machine and controlled by electronics. Therefore, the hive can be put on bee-houses or containers.

rotating beehive 4

Prospects
Today's apiculture is characterized by a century old technology in the whole world. This technology has hardly been renewed in the last one hundred years, since it did not utilized the advantages provided by machines and electronics. Because of the outdated technology apiculture is not a successful branch of agriculture in the developed countries.

The hive with rotating frame of Y broodnest is the result of a research conducted for several years. It was presented for the first time in Hungary at an international symposium held in Godolld on 15th September 2002.

The new technology has attracted lively interest among beekeepers. The inventor made several presentations with great success in Hungarian towns. The Hungarian media (journals for beekeepers, newspapers, television) also participated in the popularization of the new technology.

Lajos Konya

The inventor
Lajos Konja
H-9153 Ôttevény Râkôczi E u. 28.
Hungaria
Tel.: 36-96/485-264
Mobile: 36-20/388-22-36
Tel/Fax:: 36-96/485-860

The producer
HALLS
Halis 25H
8800 Nagykanizsa
Hungaria
Tel.: 36-93/319-561
Mobile: 36-30/396-86-83