Method and device for identifying different species of honeybees

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:867156

Kerr, Howard T ^[1]; Buchanan, Michael E ^[2]; Valentine, Kenneth H ^[3]

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1. Maryville, TN
2. Lenoir City, TN
3. Knoxville, TN

A method and device have been provided for distinguishing Africanized honeybees from European honeybees. The method is based on the discovery of a distinct difference in the acoustical signatures of these two species of honeybees in flight. The European honeybee signature has a fundamental power peak in the 210 to 240 Hz range while the Africanized honeybee signature has a fundamental power peak in the 260 to 290 Hz range. The acoustic signal produced by honeybees is analyzed by means of a detecting device to quickly determine the honeybee species through the detection of the presence of frequencies in one of these distinct ranges. The device includes a microphone for acoustical signal detection which feeds the detected signal into a frequency analyzer which is designed to detect the presence of either of the known fundamental wingbeat frequencies unique to the acoustical signatures of these species as an indication of the identity of the species and indicate the species identity on a readout device.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): US 4876721
• OSTI ID: 867156
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
device
identifying
species
honeybees
provided
distinguishing
africanized
european
based
discovery
distinct
difference
acoustical
signatures
flight
honeybee
signature
fundamental
power
peak
210
240
hz
range
260
290
acoustic
signal
produced
analyzed
means
detecting
quickly
determine
detection
presence
frequencies
ranges
microphone
feeds
detected
frequency
analyzer
designed
detect
wingbeat
unique
indication
identity
indicate
readout
detected signal
signal produced
acoustic signal
readout device
detecting device
hz range
quickly determine
distinct ranges
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