Integrative fungal solutions for protecting bees and overcoming colony collapse disorder (CCD): methods and compositions

Abstract

The present invention is based on a plurality of benefits from the extracts of mycelia of individual fungal species, and their mixtures, to provide an armamentarium of defenses from multiple stressors in order to help bees survive and more particularly overcome a complex of symptoms collectively called colony collapse disorder (CCD). The methods and compositions of this designed fungal bioshield helps tilt the balance in favor of bee colony survival, improving the health conditions, disease resistance, pesticide tolerance, pollution tolerance, drought tolerance, pollination abilities, and quality of the honey produced by bees.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A composition for improving bee health and helping to prevent colony collapse disorder among bees comprising a nutraceutical product selected from the group consisting of an extract of a mushroom mycelium, a derivative of an extract of a mushroom mycelium and combinations thereof, combined with a bee product selected from the group consisting of sugar syrup, high fructose corn syrup water, bee candy, pollen patties, grease patties, propolis, bees wax, bee sprays, bee feed, sticky strips and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the extract of a mushroom mycelium and the derivative of an extract of a mushroom mycelium is selected from the group of mycelium derivatives consisting of an aqueous extract of mushroom mycelium, an aqueous ethanolic extract of mushroom mycelium, precipitate from an aqueous extract of mushroom mycelium precipitated by addition of ethanol, supernatant remaining after the precipitate from an aqueous extract of mushroom mycelium precipitated by addition of ethanol is removed, precipitate from an aqueous ethanolic extract of mushroom mycelium allowed to sit, concentrate from aqueous ethanolic extract of mushroom mycelium which has had a portion of the solvent removed, supernatant from aqueous ethanolic extract which has had a portion of solvent removed, an extract of mushroom mycelium from which solvent has been removed and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the extract of a mushroom mycelium is an extract of  Stropharia rugoso - annulata  mycelium. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the mushroom mycelium is selected from the group consisting of Polyporales mushroom mycelium, Hymenochaetales mushroom mycelium, Agaricales mushroom mycelium and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein Polyporales and Hymenochaetales are selected from the group consisting of  Antrodia, Coriolus, Daedalea, Fomes, Fomitopsis, Fomitoporia, Ganoderma, Grifola, Inonotus, Heterobasidion, Irpex, Ischnoderma, Laetiporus, Lenzites, Merilipus, Phaeolus, Phanerochaete, Pycnoporus, Phaeolus, Phellinus, Polyporus, Schizophyllum, Sparassis, Stereum, Trametes, Trichaptum, Tyromyces, Wolfiporia  and combinations thereof, and Agaricales are selected from the group consisting of  Agaricus, Agrocybe, Amanita, Armillaria, Clitocybe, Conocybe, Coprinus, Coprinopsis, Galerina, Gymnopus, Hypholoma, Hypsizygus, Lentinus, Lepiota, Lepista, Mycena, Panaeolus, Pleurotus, Panellus, Pluteus, Psathyrella, Psilocybe, Stropharia, Termitomyces, Volvaria, Volvariella  and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein Polyporales and Hymenochaetales are selected from the group consisting of  Antrodia cinnomonea, Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma atrum, Ganoderma brownii, Ganoderma curtisii, Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma lingzhi, Ganoderma oregonense, Ganoderma resinaceum, Ganoderma tsugae, Fomes fomentarius, Fomitopsis officinalis, Fomitopsis pinicola, Fomitiporia robusta, Heterobasidion annosum, Inonotus hispidus, Inonotus johnsonii, Inonotus obliquus, Laetiporus cincinnatus, Laetiporus sulphureus, Laetiporus conifericola, Lenzites betulina, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Phaeolus schweinitzii, Phellinus igniarius, Phellinus linteus, Phellinus pini, Polyporus elegans, Phanerochaetes chrysosporium, Phaeolus schweitnitzii, Schizophyllum commune, Stereum complicatum, Stereum hirsutum, Stereum ostrea, Trametes elegans, Trametes versicolor, Trametes gibbosa, Trametes hirsuta, Trametes villosa, Tramets cingulata, Wolfiporia cocos  and combinations thereof, and Agaricales are selected from the group consisting of  Agaricus augustus, Agaricus blazei, Agaricus bonardii, Agaricus brasiliensis, Agaricus campestris, Agaricus lilaceps, Agaricus placomyces, Agaricus subrufescens, Agaricus sylvicola, Agrocybe pediades, Agrocybe aegerita, Agrocybe arvalis, praecox, Amanita muscaria, Amanita gemmata, Amanita pantherina, Amanita phalloides, Amanita virosa, Amanita pachycolea, Amanita vaginata, Clitocybe odora, Clitocybe dealbata, Clitocybe dilitata, Conocybe cyanopus, Conocybe lacteus, Conocybe rickenii, Conocybe smithii, Conocybe tenera, Coprinopsis atrementaria, Coprinopsis nivea, Coprinopsis lagopus, Coprinus comatus, Coprinus micaceus, Galerina autumnalis, Galerina marginata, Galerina venenata, Gymnopus hydrophilus, Gymnopilus peronatus, Hypholoma aurantica  ( Leratiomyces ceres ),  Hypholoma capnoides, Hypholoma fasciculare, Hypholoma sublateritium, Hypsizygus marmoreus, Hypsizygus tessulatus, Hypsizygus ulmarius, Lentinus ponderosus, Lepiota procera  ( Macrolepiota procera ),  Lepiota rachodes  ( Chlorophyllum rachodes ),  Lepista nuda, Mycena alcalina, Mycena pura, Mycena aurantiadisca, Panellus serotinus, Panaeolus foenisecii, Panaeolus subbalteatus, Pleurotus columbinus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus cystidiosus, Pleurotus pulmonarius, Pleurotus sapidus, Pleurotus tuberregium, Panellus stipticus, Panellus serotinus, Pluteus cervinus, Psathyrella aquatica, Psathyrella condolleana, Psathyrella hydrophila, Psilocybe allenii, Psilocybe coprophila, Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe cyanescens, Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata, Stropharia aeruginosa, Stropharia coronilla, Stropharia rugoso - annulata, Stropharia semiglobata, Stropharia semigloboides, Stropharia squamosa, Stropharia thrausta, Stropharia umbonotescens, Termitomyces robusta, Volvaria bombycina, Volvariella volvacea  and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the extract of a mushroom mycelium is selected from the group consisting of extract of  Ganoderma resinaceum  mycelium, extract of  Ganoderma lucidum  mycelium and combinations thereof, wherein the extract is concentrated into a form with variable viscosities resembling a form of honey and is used as a honey substitute. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  where the extract of a mushroom mycelium is concentrated to the consistency of honey and is used as a honey substitute. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the mushroom mycelium is mycelium of a mushroom species that will not form primordia unless the mushroom mycelium is exposed to light selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet light and 360 nanometer or lower wavelength light. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the mushroom mycelium is a brightly colored mushroom mycelium. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein the brightly colored mushroom mycelium is yellow. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition additionally comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of extracts from Neem trees, derivatives from Neem trees and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1  where in the composition additionally comprises tree resins. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition additionally comprises a miticide, wherein the miticide is selected from the group consisting of synthetic miticides, natural miticides and combinations thereof, and wherein the natural miticides are selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, formic acid, lactic acid, spores of entomopathogenic fungi pathogenic to mites, hyphae of entomopathogenic fungi pathogenic to mites, preconidial mycelium of entomopathogenic fungi pathogenic to mites, extracts of preconidial mycelium of entomopathogenic fungi pathogenic to mites and combinations thereof, and wherein the spores of entomopathogenic fungi pathogenic to mites are selected from the group consisting of  Metarhizium anisopliae  spores,  Beauveria bassiana  spores, Entomophthorales spores and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A composition for improving and up-regulating the metabolic, immune and detoxification systems of bees, including antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antiprotozoal properties comprising a derivative of a mycelium of a mushroom fungus combined with a compound that benefits bees selected from the group consisting of sugar syrup, high fructose corn syrup water, bee candy, pollen patties, grease patties, bee sprays, plant sprays for plants of benefit to bees, neem extracts, neem derivatives, tree resins, miticides, bees wax, spores and preconidial mycelium of entomopathogenic fungi, sticky strips and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the derivative of a mycelium of a mushroom fungus is selected from the group of mycelium derivatives consisting of an aqueous extract of mushroom mycelium, an aqueous ethanolic extract of mushroom mycelium, precipitate from an aqueous extract of mushroom mycelium precipitated by addition of ethanol, supernatant remaining after the precipitate from an aqueous extract of mushroom mycelium precipitated by addition of ethanol is removed, precipitate from an aqueous ethanolic extract of mushroom mycelium allowed to sit, concentrate from aqueous ethanolic extract of mushroom mycelium which has had a portion of solvent removed, supernatant from aqueous ethanolic extract which has had a portion of solvent removed, an extract of mushroom mycelium from which solvent has been removed and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the derivative of a mycelium of a mushroom fungus is an extract of  Stropharia rugoso - annulata  mycelium. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the derivative of a mycelium of a mushroom fungus is selected from the group consisting of derivatives of Polyporales mushroom mycelium, Hymenochaetales mushroom mycelium, Agaricales mushroom mycelium and combinations thereof, wherein Polyporales and Hymenochaetales are selected from the group consisting of  Antrodia, Coriolus, Daedalea, Fomes, Fomitopsis, Fomitoporia, Ganoderma, Grifola, Inonotus, Heterobasidion, Irpex, Ischnoderma, Laeitoporus, Lenzites, Merilipus, Phaeolus, Phanerochaete, Pycnoporus, Phaeolus, Phellinus, Polyporus, Schizophyllum, Sparassis, Stereum, Trametes, Trichaptum, Tyromyces, Wolfiporia  and combinations thereof, and wherein Agaricales are selected from the group consisting of  Agaricus, Agrocybe, Amanita, Armillaria, Clitocybe, Conocybe, Coprinus, Coprinopsis, Galerina, Gymnopus, Hypholoma, Hypsizygus, Lentinus, Lepiota, Lepista, Mycena, Panaeolus, Pleurotus, Panellus, Pluteus, Psathyrella, Psilocybe, Stropharia, Termitomyces, Volvaria, Volvariella  and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the derivative of a mycelium of a mushroom fungus is selected from the group consisting of Polyporales mushroom mycelium, Hymenochaetales mushroom mycelium, Agaricales mushroom mycelium and combinations thereof, and wherein Polyporales and Hymenochaetales are selected from the group consisting of  Antrodia cinnomonea, Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma brownii, Ganoderma curtisii, Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma lingzhi, Ganoderma oregonense, Ganoderma resinaceum, Ganoderma tsugae, Fomes fomentarius, Fomitopsis officinalis, Fomitopsis pinicola, Fomitiporia robusta, Heterobasidion annosum, Inonotus hispidus, Inonotus johnsonii, Inonotus obliquus, Laetiporus cincinnatus, Laetiporus sulphureus, Laetiporus conifericola, Lenzites betulina, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Phaeolus schweinitzii, Phellinus igniarius, Phellinus linteus, Polyporus elegans, Phanerochaetes chrysosporium, Phaeolus schweitnitzii, Stereum complicatum, Stereum hirsutum, Stereum ostrea, Trametes elegans, Trametes versicolor, Wolfiporia cocos  and combinations thereof, and wherein Agaricales are selected from the group consisting of  Agaricus augustus, Agaricus blazei, Agaricus bonardii, Agaricus brasiliensis, Agaricus campestris, Agaricus lilaceps, Agaricus placomyces, Agaricus subrufescens, Agaricus sylvicola, Agrocybe pediades, Agrocybe aegerita, Agrocybe arvalis, praecox, Amanita muscaria, Amanita gemmata, Amanita pantherina, Amanita phalloides, Amanita virosa, Amanita pachycolea, Amanita vaginata, Clitocybe odora, Clitocybe dealbata, Clitocybe dilitata, Conocybe cyanopous, Conocybe lacteus, Conocybe rickenii, Conocybe smithii, Conocybe tenera, Coprinopsis atrementaria, Coprinopsis nivea, Coprinopsis lagopus, Coprinus comatus, Coprinus micaceus, Galerina autumnalis, Galerina marginata, Galerina venenata, Gymnopus hydrophilus, Gymnopilus peronatus, Hypholoma aurantica (Leratiomyces ceres), Hypholoma capnoides, Hypholoma fasciculare, Hypholoma sublateritium, Hypsizygus marmoreus, Hypsizygus tessulatus, Hypsizygus ulmarius, Lentinus ponderosus, Lepiota procera  ( Macrolepiota procera ),  Lepiota rachodes  (Chlorophyllum rachodes),  Lepista nuda, Mycena alcalina, Mycena pura, Mycena aurantiadisca, Panellus serotinus, Panaeolus foenisecii, Panaeolus subbalteatus, Pleurotus columbinus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus cystidiosus, Pleurotus pulmonarius, Pleurotus sapidus, Pleurotus tuberregium, Panellus stipticus, Panellus serotinus, Pluteus cervinus, Psathyrella aquatica, Psathyrella condolleana, Psathyrella hydrophila, Psilocybe allenii, Psilocybe coprophila, Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe cyanescens, Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata, Stropharia aeruginosa, Stropharia coronilla, Stropharia rugoso - annulata, Stropharia semiglobata, Stropharia semigloboides, Stropharia squamosa, Stropharia thrausta, Stropharia umbonotescens, Termitomyces robusta, Volvaria bombycina, Volvariella volvacea  and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the derivative of a mycelium of a mushroom fungus is selected from the group consisting of extract of  Ganoderma resinaceum  mycelium, extract of  Ganoderma lucidum  mycelium and combinations thereof, wherein the extract is concentrated into a form with variable viscosities resembling a form of honey and is used as a honey substitute. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 15  where the derivative of a mycelium of a mushroom fungus is an extract concentrated to the consistency of honey and used as a honey substitute. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the mushroom fungus is a mushroom species that will not form primordia unless the mushroom mycelium is exposed to light selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet light and light of 360 nanometer or lower wavelength. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the mycelium is a brightly colored mushroom mycelium 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 23  wherein the brightly colored mushroom mycelium is yellow. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the composition additionally comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of extracts from Neem trees, derivatives from Neem trees, tree resins and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the composition additionally comprises a miticide, wherein the miticide is selected from the group consisting of synthetic miticides, natural miticides and combinations thereof, and wherein the natural miticides are selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, formic acid, lactic acid, spores of entomopathogenic fungi pathogenic to mites, hyphae of entomopathogenic fungi pathogenic to mites, preconidial mycelium of entomopathogenic fungi pathogenic to mites, extracts of preconidial mycelium of entomopathogenic fungi pathogenic to mites and combinations thereof, and wherein the spores of entomopathogenic fungi pathogenic to mites are selected from the group consisting of  Metarhizium anisopliae  spores,  Beauveria bassiana  spores, Entomophthorales spores and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         27 . A composition to benefit bees comprising a mushroom product selected from the group consisting of an extract of fungal mycelium, a derivative of an extract of fungal mycelium and combinations thereof, wherein the fungal mycelium is selected from the group consisting of entomopathogenic fungi mycelium and mushroom fungi mycelium, combined with a spray selected from the group consisting of sprays applied to bees and sprays applied to plants that bees visit. 
     
     
         28 . A composition of benefit to bees comprising an extract of mycelium of a mushroom, honey, and a composition selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, neem extracts and derivatives and spores of entomopathogenic fungi. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 28  wherein the neem extracts and derivatives are selected from the group consisting of neem insecticides and edible human health products. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 29  wherein the honey is obtained from bees that have been fed mushroom mycelium products.