BroodMinder-TH Brood Sensor (Temperature and Humidity)

The Importance of Monitoring Temperature and Humidity in the Hive

In beekeeping, temperature and humidity in the brood area provide valuable insights into the colony's stability and wellbeing. Keeping the temperature between 32-36 °C is essential for brood development; any deviation from this range could indicate issues such as queen absence, a lack of nurse bees, or disease. Humidity is also a critical factor, especially in dry climates like southern Spain, where humidity below 50% can cause eggs to dehydrate and prevent hatching.

With the BroodMinder-TH, you can identify temperature and humidity patterns that help you anticipate issues like swarming risk, queen laying pauses, or emergency situations requiring intervention to prevent brood desiccation or loss.

BroodMinder-TH Features

• High precision temperature and humidity measurement: BroodMinder-TH monitors temperature with +/- 0.25 °C accuracy and humidity with +/- 1% accuracy, capturing up to 24 readings per day. This enables continuous monitoring of brood area conditions.
• Critical event detection: When sudden changes in temperature or humidity occur, the sensor automatically switches to high-frequency sampling mode, gathering more data to provide a detailed view of any relevant events, such as brood issues or swarming.
• Detailed and accessible data logging: With storage capacity for up to 7000 records, BroodMinder-TH enables a historical review of colony evolution. Its low-energy Bluetooth connectivity allows rapid data downloads to the BroodMinder Bees app or data viewing on the Mybroodminder.com platform.

Data Interpretation: Smart Decision-Making

• Swarming events or queen laying pauses: When the sensor detects temperatures between 34-38 °C with stable humidity, it may indicate intense activity, potentially related to swarming. This reading alerts the beekeeper to check for sufficient hive space and assess queen health to prevent a possible swarm loss.
• Detection of brood desiccation in low-humidity conditions: Humidity readings below 50%, combined with stable temperatures, suggest an increased risk of brood dehydration, particularly in dry climates. This can be especially useful for beekeepers in hot regions where heat and lack of moisture can damage the brood. By monitoring this variable, beekeepers can opt to place water sources near hives to help bees regulate the internal microclimate.
• Inactive or dead hive: If temperature and humidity readings match the external environment, it is likely that the colony has either perished or entered a state of hibernation. This information allows the beekeeper to inspect the hive, determine the cause of loss, and take preventative measures to protect it from pests.

BroodMinder-TH Technical Specifications

• Temperature accuracy: +/- 0.25 °C
• Humidity accuracy: +/- 1%
• Measurement frequency: configurable (from 1 hour to every 15 minutes)
• Critical event detection: with high-frequency sampling mode
• Dimensions: 26.5 x 4.0 x 0.8 cm
• Weight: 13 g
• Battery: CR2032, lasting up to 1 year
• Internal memory: up to 7000 records
• Connectivity: Low-energy Bluetooth, with a 10-meter range
• Firmware updates: via the BroodMinder Bees app

Practical Benefits of BroodMinder-TH

This sensor allows beekeepers to plan hive visits based on precise information for each hive, saving time, fuel, and effort by performing inspections only when necessary. This not only reduces stress on the bees but also improves colony management efficiency, optimizing both health and production.

Easy Installation and Practical Use

For optimal readings, place the sensor in the center of the brood frames, just below the inner cover, ensuring it captures the heat and humidity generated by the bees. You can view data in real time from the BroodMinder Bees app or compare it with other beekeepers on BeeCounted.org, a global community contributing to informed beekeeping.

Conclusion

The BroodMinder-TH is an advanced yet accessible tool that brings hive management to a higher level of precision, ideal for beekeepers of all experience levels looking to improve hive efficiency. With this sensor, you can optimize your decision-making, care for the health of your bees, and ensure the productivity of your hives.