MICROPROCESSOR-CONTROLLED MONITORING OF HONEYBEE FLIGHT ACTIVITY AT THE HIVE ENTRANCE

An important parameter in evaluating the activity of a honeybee colony is given by the number of bees leaving and entering the hive as a fun ction of time. The microprocessor-controlled counter described here pr esents many advantages over previous counting devices. The counter fit s the standard hive measurement (10 combs), and provides access to the hive via 32 bi-directional channels. The very small infrared detector s in each channel are only 0.1 mm apart, and are controlled by an asyn chronous sequential algorithm, which improves the counter's precision. Results of measurements of the daily activity of honeybee colonies un der different conditions (normal, in the presence of pesticides, or du ring swarming) are presented.