| Abstract |
A transparent plastic plate (30cm x 20cm) inbuilt with one cm2 grids designed to study growth pattern and structure of bee colonies was developed. Pictures taken with a digital camera of bee comb with the plate placed infront during field sampling, are downloaded and stored into the computer system, thus allowing monitoring of the same colony over any duration of time without destructive sampling and data collection at any convenient time. The light plate overcomes the cumbersome use of the conventional wire grid. It also allows faster recording process as compared to current methods like the tedious task of drawing grids over photographs or the laying of flimsy plastic grid sheet over destructive harvested comb. The range of parameters that can be measured quantitatively provides accurate assessment. The device to be supported by image processing software, in future to facilitate data collection from photograph images in the computer screen will be a useful tool in research and development studies in apiary management for optimum honey production. |