IEEE Access (Jan 2024)
IgnitusTracker: Tracking Bee Flights for Assessing the Activity of <italic>Bombus Ignitus</italic> Towards Keeping Optimal Pollination Environments
Abstract
Bombus ignitus plays a vital role as a pollinator insect in greenhouse horticulture in Japan, China, and Korea. The activity of worker bees diminishes over time, prompting the replacement of the entire hive with new bees. However, considering the cost of hives, it is imperative to pinpoint the optimal replacement timing, balancing the decline in bee activity and the expenses associated with hive renewal. In pursuit of this goal, Calculating the ideal timing for replacement using activity data is preferable. Currently, Farmers often rely on visual monitoring and empirical judgments to decide when to replace hives due to the unavailability of activity data. Addressing this gap, Our study focuses on accurately quantifying the arrivals and departures of Bombus ignitus males and workers from hives, using these metrics as reliable indicators of bee activity. For this purpose, we propose a method for accurately tracking Bombus ignitus. Our proposed method combines specialized tracking techniques for honeybees, drawn from existing research, with commonly used tracking methods for pedestrians and automobiles. The evaluation of our method using test data showcases superior tracking precision with reduced errors, providing a more accurate tally of arrivals and departures compared to existing approaches. Furthermore, when applied on actual farms, our method revealed a significant decrease in worker bee arrivals and departures as the expected replacement time, based on farmers’ experience, drew nearer. This promising result suggests that our approach facilitates data-informed decision-making. As a result, our findings pave the way for significantly enhanced efficiency and precisely timed hive replacements, supported by compelling evidence, thus shaping the future landscape of beekeeping practices.
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