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Depiction:
Winter is undoubtedly the most demanding period for bees. However, nature has provided so-called “winter bees” with characteristics that enable them to withstand the rigours of the cold season. Winter bees have larger fat reserves than summer bees, they possess a more developed hair covering that provides natural insulation, and the contraction of the thoracic muscles generates a significantly greater release of heat than in summer bees. Their constitution, together with their behaviour, allows them to live longer and to cope with the harsh conditions of winter.
Le laurier est un arbrisseau aux feuilles aromatiques, typique des régions méditerranéennes. Il en existe plusieurs variétés qui s’adaptent bien chez nous et qui fleurissent à différentes époques de l’année. Il est présent surtout dans les jardins, où il forme de belles haies grâce à son feuillage dense et vert.
par SEAN BAILLY
Aurore Avarguès-Weber, de l’université de Toulouse, et des collègues de Melbourne, en Australie, sous la direction d’Adrian Dyer, ont continué à explorer les capacités en mathématiques des abeilles. Ils viennent de montrer qu’elles sont capables d’additionner
et de soustraire.
Chalkbrood is a fungal disease that affects worker and drone brood. Contamination by spores occurs through larval feeding. The fungus germinates in the larval gut and spreads throughout the body in the form of filaments. The disease occurs mainly in weak colonies; it is promoted by sharp drops in temperature and high humidity. It may affect individual colonies or, under unfavourable weather conditions (cold, humidity), entire apiaries in the form of an epidemic. A site that is regularly and heavily affected by chalkbrood is considered unsuitable; hives should therefore be relocated to a sunnier location. Severe infestation can kill colonies.
La visite d’une ruche se prépare à l’avance pour ne rien oublier et gagner en efficacité. Une visite, même brève, dérange la colonie qui la vit comme une intrusion et le stress engendré amènent les abeilles à consommer entre 0.5 et 1 kg de miel. La visite ne sera donc effectuée qu’en cas de nécessité. Ces quelques conseils rendent les visites plus efficaces :
The honey bee is the fifth insect and the first hymenopteran whose genome has been fully sequenced. The DNA analysis was based on males originating from a single queen obtained from the Bee Weaver apiaries in Texas. Since the project began, approximately 14 million individual reads were required to reconstruct the 236 million base pairs that constitute the nearly complete honey bee genome.
Le comportement individuel de l’abeille mellifère s’inscrit dans la gestion globale du superorganisme qu’est la colonie. L’activité, au plus profond du nid à couvain, est enfin découverte grâce au travail d’une équipe de chercheurs qui a mis au point une technologie d’enregistrement numérique de vidéos surprenantes. L’intimité de la colonie est révélée jusqu’au fond des alvéoles : la ponte, l’éclosion des larves, l’élevage du couvain ouvert, le stockage de la nourriture apparaissent dans de courtes vidéos permettant de visualiser des comportements jusqu’ici insoupçonnés.
Création de nuclei
Pourquoi multiplier ses colonies ? Cela peut être pour augmenter le cheptel, pour renouveler les colonies, pour la vigueur des jeunes reines, pour la sélection de vos colonies préférées, etc. Dans la nature, l’abeille a trois méthodes pour se reproduire : l'essaimage (reproduction naturelle des abeilles), le remérage (renouvellement d'une reine déficiente ou âgée), la cellule de sauveté (perte de la reine). L’apiculteur-trice a lui aussi différentes méthodes à sa disposition pour multiplier artificiellement son cheptel, ce sont des procédés plus ou moins complexes et cela va de la simple division, à l’élevage de reines par le picking. L’objectif pour l’abeille comme pour l’apiculteur est de faire naître une reine afin que celle-ci engendre une nouvelle colonie.
Arbre à feuilles caduques ou parfois à feuillage persistant, monoïque et anémophile avec des fleurs discrètes, verdâtres et unisexuées. Les fleurs mâles sont pendantes et regroupées en chatons, alors que les fleurs femelles sont arrondies et peu visibles, se développant en gland (fruit à coque).
Sanitising a colony heavily infested with varroa within one day. The technique applied corresponds to that of artificial swarms with a queen, in which the colony is transferred to a hive with new frames.
by ALAIN SATABIN
As early as Antiquity, mathematicians observed that the shape of honeycomb cells in beehives optimizes the ratio between available volume and the amount of wax used. Demonstrating this, however, is another matter … one that has still not been fully resolved.
Giant hogweed, whose scientific name is Heracleum mantegazzianum, is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Apiaceae (or Umbelliferae) family. Native to the Caucasus and introduced into Europe in the 19th century for ornamental purposes and for its melliferous properties, it is now considered an invasive species on our continent.
It is a contagious disease of the honey bee caused by a virus known as CBPV, an abbreviation of its English name Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (chronic bee paralysis virus).
Mesurant 1mm³, le cerveau de l’abeille est capable de prouesses remarquables grâce à des mécanismes cognitifs très élaborés. L’abeille fait des choix, mémorise des trajets en suivant précisément la course du soleil, repère des sources de nourriture qu’elle évalue qualitativement et quantitativement, transmet de multiples informations à ses consœurs pour recruter un grand nombre de butineuses aux compétences différentiées.
Ideally, high-quality honey has a water content not exceeding 17.5%. This allows the beekeeper to sell honey of high quality that does not ferment once it reaches the consumer.
Under the screened bottoms of our hive floors, it is advisable to place a drawer. Various debris, poorly stored in the cells, end up on this board and can sometimes provide information without having to open the hive.
When a queen breeder practises drone rearing in order to naturally mate his queens, he saturates the area with drones. However, only a proportion of his drones will visit the drone congregation areas, which consist of a representative sample of the colonies surrounding his apiary. The influence exerted by the breeder is not negligible, but mating at a mating apiary will always result in hybrid offspring. These are F1 queens.
The queen has a lifespan of 4–5 years. This may seem long. However, it takes 1–2 years to identify a valuable queen and select her for (re)production. To preserve this queen for as long as possible, her egg laying must be managed carefully, as it depends on the number of spermatozoa present in her spermatheca. Various techniques make it possible to modulate egg laying: colony size, the surface of empty cells, the population of young bees, protein resources …
The European honey bee, also known as the honey fly (Apis mellifera), is a domesticated honey bee species native to Europe. It is considered semi-domesticated. It is one of the bee species bred on a large scale for honey production.
Buddleia (scientific name: Buddleja davidii) is a shrub also known as the “butterfly bush”. Despite its appealing name, it is an invasive plant whose spread should be strictly limited.
Unlike social insects, which include our honey bee Apis mellifera, wild or solitary bees have a different way of life. They do not share their nests, do not cooperate in brood rearing, show no overlap of generations, do not store honey, work independently, are not aggressive, and often lack a sting.
Biotechnical control methods are increasingly being promoted in the fight against varroosis. Among these, techniques that induce significant interruptions in brood development are often discussed. However, such methods are still rarely used by beekeepers, except on an experimental basis. This article analyses the relevance of brood interruption and the different techniques derived from it.
Four types of queen cells are distinguished :
1. Natural swarming queen cells
2. Emergency queen cells
3. Supersedure queen cells
4. Artificial queen cells
This method can be repeated as often as desired without harming the bees. Within approximately 15 minutes, the level of varroa infestation of a colony can be determined.
Avec cette méthode, l'ensemble du couvain, y compris les varroas qui s'y trouvent, est retiré en juillet d’une colonie de production. Les cadres de couvain de 2 - 3 colonies sont rassemblés pour former une nouvelle entité. Le retrait total du couvain remplace le premier traitement estival à l’acide formique. Le second traitement estival doit être effectué comme de coutume.
Nature ensures the multiplication of colonies through swarming, but beekeepers prefer colonies that develop well and become strong without swarming. A colony that intends to swarm (swarming fever) stops building comb and collects little nectar. Swarms are often lost, especially for beekeepers whose apiaries are far away. In addition, a parent colony that has swarmed requires special attention and care. What can the beekeeper do?
The black locust or false acacia, known by its scientific name Robinia pseudoacacia, is an exotic plant that was introduced from North America in the 17th century. This tree, which can reach up to 25 metres in height and live for as long as 300 years, has spread easily throughout Switzerland, as it adapts to all types of soil and is resistant to pollution, to the point of sometimes being considered invasive; however, it is not found above 800 metres in altitude.
Formic acid (Formivar) is highly corrosive. Its handling requires great caution. In all cases, protective goggles, acid-resistant gloves and long-sleeved clothing must be worn.
Colonies often become queenless during winter or after swarming, when the new queen is lost during the mating flight. Queen losses may also occur following a formic acid treatment or due to inattention on the part of the beekeeper.
A study involving Inra, Acta and the ITSAP-Institut de l’abeille examines the physiological mechanisms involved in the winter survival of honey bees. The researchers showed that a protein with antioxidant properties, vitellogenin, is associated with a 30% increase in the probability of colony survival during winter.
Like any living organism, the bee is prey to various parasites and pathogenic germs: every colony contains a broad and diverse range of microbes. Yet not every colony becomes ill as a result! This is because, like all living beings, bees have developed various means over the course of evolution to resist them: this is what is known as immunity. Bees, like humans, possess an immune defence system, but with some differences.
La création d’un essaim artificiel implique certains mécanismes nécessaires à la santé des abeilles et qui diminuent surtout l’infestation de varroa. Au moins 1 kg d’abeilles est prélevé d’une colonie en même temps que la reine. La colonie mère tire des cellules royales à partir de son couvain ou bien une cellule d’élevage est introduite. Ainsi, les deux colonies seront sans couvain et peuvent être traités efficacement contre le varroa.
Today, many so-called “probiotic” products are available on the market, intended to improve our health or sometimes even that of our livestock, such as bees1. Probiotics are formulations based on microorganisms that maintain beneficial relationships with their host. The purpose of this article is to provide elements for reflection in order to understand how such products might potentially contribute to combating diseases of the honey bee.
Our bee populations are not able to defend themselves against varroa on their own. They therefore rely on you, beekeepers, to help them. To this end, the varroa management concept developed by the Swiss Bee Health Service (SBHS) can be a valuable aid. All aide-memoires available at: www.ApiService.ch
Neonicotinoids are extremely ecotoxic pesticides. By infiltrating all environmental compartments, they indiscriminately kill both vertebrates and invertebrates. Despite their ban in 2018, traces of these substances persist in the environment at lethal concentrations.
To protect the health of local bees, it is recommended to purchase bees of Swiss origin. Local beekeepers should be encouraged to sell surplus colonies in order to avoid bee imports as much as possible. Nevertheless, if bees are imported, veterinary and customs regulations must be strictly complied with.
L’effondrement d’une colonie est le plus souvent multifactoriel. A partir de 4 facteurs cardinaux (manque de nourriture, toxines, coup de froid, parasites) la colonie va être mise sous stress avec comme conséquence une diminution de la réponse immunitaire et le développement pathologies infectieuses (virose et nosémose).
Below, you can observe in real time the variations in hive weight and the changes in colony temperature in different apiaries located in the plain and on the slope of the right bank of the Rhône.
Within the colony, the role of the drone is often poorly understood or even regarded as secondary. Yet males play a fundamental role in the transmission of genetic diversity. Gathered in so-called drone congregation areas comprising 1,000–15,000 individuals, they originate from many different colonies, sometimes located 10–15 km away. During the so-called drone flight, they mate with queens in succession (often up to 20 consecutive matings), thereby ensuring genetic mixing and preventing inbreeding.
The queen’s primary function is to lay eggs, enabling the emergence of all individuals that make up the population of a bee colony. The queen’s many other functions are not addressed in this brief article.
Registered veterinary medicinal product (successor to MAQS), ready to use for simple application in colonies with at least 10,000 bees. If the results differ from those stated in the package leaflet, please inform Swissmedic: www.vetvigilance.ch/meldung_F.html
The Asian hornet, Vespa velutina, was first observed in France in 2004 by a horticulturist in the Lot-et-Garonne region who was importing bonsai pots from China. However, it was not until autumn 2005 that it was identified by scientists; its presence was officially reported in early 2006 once its establishment had been confirmed.
Ellingsenius fulleri is the most frequently encountered pseudoscorpion species of the family Cheliferidae in South Africa. This arthropod is considered a predator of small mites and wax moth larvae found in debris at the bottom of beehives. They often attach themselves to the legs of bees and thus appear to spread to other colonies.
Plante herbacée, annuelle ou bisannuelle qui porte des inflorescences en grappes avec des fleurs jaunes et de longues siliques (fruits). Le colza est une plante importante en agriculture, cultivée comme fourrage ou pour ses graines riches en huile et utilisées dans l’industrie et l’alimentation.
The pavilion apiary dates back to the 19th century; its design was intended for storing baskets and hives with rear access. The apiary was meant to protect bees from wind, rain, and theft. The “Swiss” rear-access hive remains the most common management system in German-speaking Switzerland. Outside Switzerland, beekeeping is practiced mainly using multi-super hives.
The creation, as early as spring, of several nucleus colonies from a small six-frame colony is highly profitable and straightforward, provided that the beekeeper monitors the development of the parent colony, transfers the brood frames onto two stacked boxes, and that frequent syrup feeding stimulates a particularly prolific queen.
En Suisse comme partout ailleurs, les abeilles disparaissent, parfois de manière dramatique. Or sans abeilles, ce n'est pas seulement le miel qui risque de manquer, mais aussi les fruits et les légumes. Pour tenter de percer le mystère de la disparition des abeilles, Fred et Jamy se sont rendus dans le Vaucluse. Fred est partie à la rencontre d'apiculteurs et d'agriculteurs. Jamy, quand à lui a installé son mini labo à l'INRA d'Avignon au beau milieu des ruches destinées à la recherche.
Some flowers produce a blue halo on their petals to attract pollinators
Acquired and controlled through evolution, a degree of “disorder” in the nanometric structure of the petals of many flowers allows for more efficient pollination.
Researchers have discovered that some flowers have developed an additional strategy to encourage insects to forage on them. An ultraviolet halo effectively attracts pollinators.
Image: Ursinia speciosa, like other flower species, produces a blue halo on its petals to attract pollinators. © Edwige Moyroud
The introduction of queens always entails a significant risk for the introduced queen. Some publications report failure rates of up to 50 %. For successful acceptance, all conditions must be optimal. The highest success rates are achieved when a young colony with a young queen is combined with an older colony. In general, favourable conditions must be deliberately created in order for a colony to accept an introduced queen.
Les insectes ne sont pas des automates dépourvus de sensibilité : abeilles, guêpes, mouches ou fourmis montrent en laboratoire des capacités cognitives et émotionnelles étonnantes.
Des expériences récentes suggèrent que les bourdons peuvent ressentir l’optimisme, la joie et même peut-être la douleur. Ces découvertes soulèvent des questions éthiques importantes, relatives au traitement des insectes en laboratoire ou à leur élevage, ou encore à l’usage des pesticides.
Reviewed for you by Claude Pfefferlé
But where does the queen fly? The unprecedented case of a foraging queen! Another dogma is being challenged…
In the countryside of northern Sardinia, an Italian honey bee queen (Apis mellifera ligustica) was observed for the first time in spring 2021 while foraging on a borage flower (Borago officinalis), most likely during an orientation flight prior to mating.
The bee’s mini brain, which contains about 10⁶ cells (10¹¹ in humans), enables it not only to manage stereotyped behaviors such as foraging, but also—thanks to its plasticity—to adapt and allow the insect to respond to new problems through often complex learning. The bee’s brain is capable of providing “intelligent” solutions to a wide range of ecological or other problems, as is the case in vertebrates and in humans.
Colonies must be able to rely at all times on an adequate supply of essential food, even during fluctuations in the natural nectar flow (environment, agriculture, weather, etc.). After the first honey harvest, sufficient food should be left in the colonies so that they can bridge periods of nectar shortage between honey flows using their own reserves.
Although substantial research has been conducted on the causes of colony collapse disorder in the European honey bee Apis mellifera, there has been increasing evidence over the past two decades that another pandemic affecting both domesticated and native bees is emerging. This pandemic is the result of the spread of fungal pathogens of the genus Nosema.
Pheromones are key elements of animal communication: they are released to convey specific messages such as sexual attraction, aggression, recognition of conspecifics, etc., to members of the same species.
Figure: Proboscis extension: appetitive response of an immobilized bee to a sugar-solution reward that has contacted its antennae. Bees exposed to pheromones of different significance modify their proboscis extension behavior, thereby demonstrating the impact of these pheromones on the evaluation of the received food reward. © Martin Giurfa
par DALILA BOVET
On peut parler de personnalité chez des animaux quand on observe des différences individuelles cohérentes dans le temps et qui se manifestent dans différents contextes.Certaines abeilles se révèlent plus attirées par la nouveauté que d’autres. Ces différences de comportement reposent sur des variations génétiques. Est-ce qu'on peut donc conclure que les abeilles ont-elles un personnalité ?
August is sometimes a lean month for bees in terms of resources. The abundant flowering period is over. The high temperatures of the second half of July and the first half of August have dried out the soils, thereby reducing nectar production.
The washing method can be applied throughout the year to dead colonies. It also makes it possible to determine whether varroa was the probable cause of bee mortality.
Heathers are small, bushy shrubs belonging to the Ericaceae family that grow on nutrient-poor soils. There are many species – several hundred – whose flowering periods extend almost throughout the entire year: June to August for Erica tetralix, June to October for Erica cinerea, June to December for Erica arborea, August to October for Calluna vulgaris, September to November for Erica multifolia, November to April or February to July for Erica carnea, etc.
La bonne pratique apicole: Chaque apiculteur devrait essayer d’élever quelques reines afin de conserver et d’améliorer la qualité de son cheptel. Dans ce petit cours je vais essayer de vous présenter une technique d’élevage de reine reprenant certaines astuces de producteurs de gelée royale. Ce procédé ne nécessite que peu d’investissement et aucune reine n’est perdue.
Oxalic acid is harmful to health and highly irritating. It must be handled with the utmost caution. In all cases, protective goggles, acid-resistant rubber gloves, and long-sleeved protective clothing must be worn.
La plupart des races d'abeilles ne sortent pas de la ruche, si la température extérieure est en dessous de 10 à 12° C.
On ne devrait pas ouvrir les ruches si la température est inférieure à 15° C. En effet si la visite devait se prolonger, on risquerait de refroidir le couvain et ainsi provoquer sa mort ou des maladies. II faut avoir des gestes calmes et ne jamais perdre le contrôle de la situation !!!
Targeted measures can be used to prevent or stop robbing. This helps to avoid the weakening or loss of the robbed colony. In addition, appropriate measures protect affected colonies against the possible introduction of pathogens and varroa mites.
There is no single correct beekeeping practice. However, there are rules based on common sense and on the experience of seasoned or professional beekeepers. While the queen is indeed the driving force of the colony, hive cleanliness, control of varroa mites, swarm-prevention strategies, the location of the apiary, and winter preparation are equally important for the healthy development of the colony with a view to achieving a good honey harvest.
Le contrôle des déchets permet de tirer de nombreuses conclusions sur l’état de santé d’une colonie. De fréquents contrôles ne la dérangent pas. En examinant les plateaux, vous constatez des anomalies et des irrégularités qui vous donnent des indices pour les futurs travaux à entreprendre sur la colonie.
The activity of insects, which are cold-blooded animals, is determined by ambient temperature. Their muscles require a minimum level of heat; if this threshold is not met, all activity ceases. To avoid this potentially lethal phenomenon in winter, insects have developed resistance strategies, most commonly through hibernation.
A bee colony requires tranquillity throughout the beekeeping season, and probably even more so during the winter months. If an overly curious beekeeper opens the hive indiscriminately, the constantly disturbed colony becomes stressed. The behaviour of this superorganism changes: energy consumption increases, the reserves of its valuable fat body are depleted, immune defences against varroa and the viruses it transmits are inhibited, the development of the worker population and brood slows down, and the colony ultimately collapses into a vicious downward spiral (► Infernal cascade: Chronicle of a foretold death).
The mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium), also called the New Zealand tea tree in English because its leaves can be used to make tea, is an evergreen perennial shrub belonging to the family Myrtaceae (the same family as eucalyptus and myrtle). It has irregularly branched shoots, and its leaves are small, variably shaped, and aromatic. During flowering, mānuka produces five-petaled flowers that may be white, pink, or red, followed by fruits in the form of round, woody capsules that persist on the plant for many months.
The implementation of a sentinel bee project, through its epidemiological dimension, constitutes the only approach capable of shedding light on the causes of the significant losses that have been affecting bee populations for nearly twenty years. Moreover, such a project makes it possible to assess the state of the environment in which colonies live—an environment that is also our own—in which the bee, owing to its sensitivity to toxic contaminants, plays an early warning role.
If a large number of dead bees are found in front of a hive entrance, this does not automatically mean that they have fallen victim to poisoning. Only an analysis of pesticide residues can provide clarification. For this purpose, a qualitatively flawless bee sample is essential (see information sheet: Protocol sheet PDF and Protocol sheet DOC – to be completed in Word).
Too often, the drawer is used solely to detect the presence, more or less abundant, of natural debris from dead varroa mites. Yet the drawer is a mirror of the life of the colony just above it… If the beekeeper takes the time to examine it regularly, the observed elements, waste, fragments, and other residues provide valuable information about colony dynamics and health. Examination of the drawer must always be correlated with the beekeeping calendar: the interpretation of a drawer inspected in summer will be very different from that of the same drawer opened at Christmas.
Les jeunes abeilles âgées de 12-19 jours (cirières)* produisent de petites écailles de cire à partir de leurs glandes cirières logées dans les 4 derniers segments abdominaux. Le processus de fabrication de la cire est complexe.
The combs are also referred to as the “skeleton” of the bee colony and thus constitute a central element of the superorganism formed by the colony. They serve as sites for larval rearing and for the storage of food, honey, and pollen, and they also transmit vibrations used for communication within the colony.
What qualities are required to be a good beekeeper? They are numerous, as beekeeping draws on a wide range of techniques and fields. Some are present from the outset, while others are acquired over time.
For millions of years, bees have ensured the survival of their species through swarming. Swarming is a natural process whose main objective is to create new, healthy and genetically diverse colonies (the males that will mate with the virgin queen in a new territory have a different genetic background). Beekeepers, however, want colonies that develop well and become strong without swarming. A colony with swarming intent (swarming fever) no longer builds comb and collects little nectar. The summer harvest is often lost. How can this swarming fever be suppressed? A new method developed by the Sion Beekeeping Association (www.ApiSion.ch) appears promising.
Les colonies d’abeilles couvrent leurs besoins en protéines et en sels minéraux en consommant du pollen. Elles ont donc besoin de suffisamment de pollen. Combien de pollen les colonies d’abeilles récoltent-elles par année ? Le présent article tente de répondre à cette question.
It sticks, it stains, and we sometimes curse it when inspecting our beehives; yet it gives beekeeping one of the fragrances that contribute to its charm and is also an increasingly sought-after product, representing a growing source of income for beekeepers. Although omnipresent in our hives, propolis is the result of a harvest and a processing effort that is anything but simple for the bee. A demanding but indispensable task; for this resinous substance, whose medicinal properties have been appreciated since Antiquity, fulfils multiple functions within the colony.
During May, a simple way to increase one’s apiary or to prevent swarming in an overly strong colony is to create a package bee swarm.
As will be clear, effective control of varroa relies on anticipation rather than on reaction alone. The objective is to keep infestation levels low throughout the season in order to preserve the colony and prevent a high parasitic and viral load. Particular emphasis is placed on protecting the winter bees so as to ensure that the colony can restart under the best possible conditions. Above all, the strategy must be adapted to the season in progress. Each year is unique, and climatic variations require increasing adaptability in order to keep varroa under control.
Le nucléus de mi-journée est un type particulier de nucléus. Il est approprié pour des colonies fortes et peut être utilisé pour tous les types de ruches. Il n’est pas nécessaire de chercher la reine pour former un nucléus de mi-journée.
Bees play an essential role in our ecosystem because of their primary function, pollination. This activity enables plants to reproduce. Alongside wasps and butterflies, bees are among the most efficient pollinating insects. However, they remain a species that is severely threatened by various factors.
(Par Jean Riondet)
La question du nourrissement est récurrente, au printemps pour stimuler les colonies et disposer de fortes populations aux moment des premières miellées, puis en cours de saison dans les moments creux, enfin pour assurer les réserves d’hiver.
Toute décision de nourrir ses colonies doit être réfléchie en tenant compte de la saison, avoir un but précis et les ingrédients doivent être bien choisis pour répondre correctement aux questions : quand ?, pourquoi ?, comment ?
D’après la visioconférence du Prof. Joseph Hemmerlé 11.01.2025, Ecole d’agriculture Châteauneuf / Sion
Le pollen est une ressource essentielle pour les abeilles, mais son intérêt pour l'humain est également notable. Cette présentation met en lumière les rôles, les caractéristiques et les applications de cette matière biologique fascinante.
Les premiers pollens sont arrivés, le saule Marsault donne un excellent pollen, la ponte de la reine est repartie depuis longtemps la quantité de pollen requise pour la croissance démographique de la colonie est impressionnante. Si une forte miellée apparait lors de la floraison du saule Marsaut, c’est l’indicateur d’une année à essaimage.
As its name suggests, May disease generally occurs in May, but it may also appear as early as April or somewhat later, in June. It mainly affects nurse bees when they do not have sufficient water to digest pollen. Cold weather accompanied by dry northeasterly winds favours the onset of the disease. In addition to water shortage, the bacterium Spiroplasma apis or certain types of pollen may also trigger May disease. Scientists assume that the disease is caused by a combination of different factors.
La fausses teignes n'est pas considérée comme une maladie. Dans la nature, les fausses teignent jouent un rôle important en cela qu’elles détruisent d’anciens cadres délaissés (sources d’agents pathogènes). Attirés par l’odeur, les papillons des fausses teignes pénètrent dans les ruches et y déposent leurs œufs. Les larves qui en résultent se nourrissent de restes de pollen et des résidus de cocons qui restent au fond des alvéoles.
Summer treatment in mating nucs is a major challenge, as the methods recommended by the CRA and the SSA for production colonies are very difficult, if not impossible, to apply. Because the climate within the colony is hard to assess due to the large number of bees confined to a small space, formic acid, for example, is almost impossible to dose correctly.
by Sophie Bécherel
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in the cerebral reward system and the sensation of pleasure in mammals. While in humans dopamine is a key element in the mechanism of drug addiction, in bees this neurotransmitter is responsible for the departure of foragers from the hive, not only to satisfy their individual desire to feed, but also to search for food in order to meet a social need and provide the colony with the nutritional inputs it requires.
The behavioural regulation of thirst, water collection and water storage in honey bee colonies.
This study examined how a honey bee colony detects and quenches its collective thirst when brood hyperthermia (>36°) is observed.
Bees that build their own combs are less inclined to swarm, as the pheromones released during wax production inform the queen about the increase in the volume of the hive.
The wax originates from specialized glands located in the abdomen of young wax-producing worker bees approximately 12 days old, developing in an environment with temperatures between 33 °C and 36 °C. These workers consume large amounts of sugar for wax production, about 7.5 kg to produce 1 kg of wax. The wax appears in the form of small scales weighing less than 1 mg. Using her hind legs, the bee brings them to her mandibles, kneads them, and assembles them
The parasitic mite is decimating beehives. Biologist Paul Page has shown that an Asian forager has found a countermeasure through a system of “altruistic suicide.” A model that its European cousin could follow?
Flying insects constantly face the challenge of choosing efficient, safe and collision-free routes while navigating through dense foliage. We examined the route-choice behavior of foraging honeybees when they encountered a barrier which could be traversed by flying through one of two apertures, positioned side by side.
C’est le repos et le maître-mot est la paix
Suivant les régions, il y aura encore de beaux jours et les abeilles réchauffées sortiront. Puis viendra le long hivernage. En grappe, les abeilles se pelotonnent autour de leur reine. Elles passent à tour de rôle à la surface de la grappe, histoire de partager la dépense d’énergie.
Faced with the current context—polluted environments, pesticides, climate change, varroosis, etc.—beekeeping is confronted with multiple challenges. However, this context does not explain everything. In order to act effectively, it appears necessary to address the “health aspect” of bee colonies in a holistic manner. This approach assumes that the biological functioning of bees is similar to that of other living organisms and that all these factors share the characteristic of being influenced by human actions. Such reflection should guide beekeeping interventions in a way that respects the health of the bees.
Since antiquity, honey has been consumed for its sweetening properties and used for its therapeutic effects. Today, it has largely been supplanted in the diet by beet sugar. In medicine, however, its bactericidal and wound-healing effects on chronic wounds are being rediscovered. Beeswax is favoured by cosmetic manufacturers, while royal jelly and propolis are recognised in dietetics. The history of the use of honey and products of the beehive is fascinating.
The drone is the male of the honey bee and the largest insect in the colony. It has a stocky build, with a thorax covered in hair. It is recognisable by its head topped with two large, globular eyes and a pair of antennae; its abdomen is rounded, and its flight is relatively loud and ungainly. Its primary role is to transmit its mother’s genetic heritage during mating.
The rowan is a deciduous tree that is very widespread in Valais, where it grows naturally in woodlands but is also widely planted in parks and gardens, notably to form living hedges that are highly valued for their foliage and decorative fruits. Several species of rowan exist; the most common are the rowanberry or mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia), the service tree, also known as sorb apple tree (Sorbus domestica), and the whitebeam (Sorbus aria).
The Asian hornet is poorly named, since the vast majority of hornets (including our European hornet) originate from Asia. Scientists are more precise and refer to it as Vespa velutina nigrithorax. This Latin designation could be translated as “large wasp, covered with numerous short, silky hairs, with a black thorax”. It belongs to the hymenopteran insects (bearing 4 membranous wings that couple in flight via a series of small hamuli) Apocrita (with a narrow wasp waist). Its portrait is clearly less poetic...
Nutrition appears to play a particularly important role in the health and immune defences of bees. They must have continuous access to nectar and pollen. However, this requirement is difficult to meet in modern agricultural landscapes. Periods without nectar flow during the most intensive phase of brood rearing slow colony growth and result in increased susceptibility to disease.
During foraging, honey bees exhibit remarkable cognitive abilities. However, pesticides and heavy metals disrupt neuronal communication, impair foraging behaviour, and ultimately place the entire colony at risk.
Beekeepers use many methods to unite bee colonies, and some very violent ones demonstrate a clear lack of respect for the bees. The only advantage of such methods is their speed, but they pay little attention to what happens to the queens, the foragers, and the bees in general. The gentlest and most commonly used method is very probably the “superposition” method. This procedure is relatively simple, accessible to both beginner and experienced beekeepers, and if the few rules discussed in this article are respected, the uniting of colonies should proceed without any problems.
La loque européenne est une maladie bactérienne. Les bactéries se multiplient dans des conditions optimales par division cellulaire. Dès que les conditions deviennent défavorables, il y a formation de capsules résistantes qui peuvent germer encore durant plusieurs mois. Les capsules hautement infectieuses sont réparties au sein de la colonie dans le nid à couvain par les travaux de nettoyage et d’entretien des ouvrières. La contamination par les capsules se fait via la nourriture donnée aux jeunes larves. Les abeilles adultes ne sont pas contaminées mais peuvent être porteuses de l’agent pathogène. Les larves malades meurent la plupart du temps encore avant operculation des cellules.
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Numerous articles available on the internet provide valuable advice on how to manage our bee colonies. It can sometimes be useful to return to more basic notions, grounded in common sense. The “ten mistakes to avoid” are intended as a way to spark the curiosity of beginner beekeepers or to encourage reflection among more experienced colleagues.
Fortunately, there are not only ten mistakes to avoid… otherwise beekeeping would be tedious or even wearisome!
The art of economy (Janine Kevits)
Winter represents a formidable challenge for fauna, as it must cope both with cold temperatures and with food scarcity. Some insects have “chosen” to avoid it by migrating to warmer regions; this is the case, for example, of the painted lady butterfly. Others concentrate their chances of survival on a few individuals—reproductives that are abundantly nourished during the favorable season and whose task is to found a new colony on their own the following spring; this is the strategy of wasps, hornets, and other solitary bees. The honey bee, by contrast, has found a different path: it is the powerful organization of the colonies it forms that enables it to meet this challenge, by implementing two means that are entirely original in the insect world—on the one hand, the storage of reserves, and on the other, the reorganization of the colony to form the winter cluster, a system characterized by the absence of brood and by modes of functioning that differ fundamentally from those of the summer colony.
Formic acid (Formivar) is highly corrosive. Its handling requires great caution. Protective goggles, acid-resistant gloves, and long-sleeved clothing must be worn in all cases.
Le naturaliste genevois est devenu l’un des plus grands spécialistes des abeilles de son époque sans pouvoir les voir : il était aveugle et réalisait ses recherches à travers les yeux et les mains de son fidèle domestique, François Burnens
Oxalic acid is harmful to health and highly irritating. It must be handled with the utmost caution. In all cases, protective goggles, acid-resistant rubber gloves, an FFP2 protective mask, and long-sleeved clothing must be worn.
<p>The idea that an animal or a plant is merely the product of the genes inherited from its parents is increasingly being questioned. Until now, it was known that the environment can, sometimes to a non-negligible extent, influence the characteristics of living beings, in their appearance or behavior (the phenotype). It now appears that the imprint of the environment can in some cases be transmitted to subsequent generations without any modification of the genetic information itself. The set of mechanisms governing this heritable component influenced by the environment is referred to as “epigenetics”.</p>
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Bees are remarkable animals. Did you know that they have existed for more than 65 million years (around 260 times longer than humans) and that they are the only insects in the world that produce a food consumed by humans without any processing.
La diarrhée des abeilles est la plupart du temps causée par le Nosema ou la dysenterie. Le Nosema est une maladie fongique qui peut apparaître sous l’effet de deux différents agents pathogènes : Nosema apis et Nosema ceranae. La contagion a lieu sous forme de spores via la nourriture, l’eau et des surfaces contaminées. Le champignon germe dans l’intestin moyen et se multiplie ensuite dans les cellules intestinales. De nouvelles spores sont transmises par les excréments. Dans cet aidemémoire, seule la diarrhée consécutive à Nosema apis est abordée et traitée. La maladie dépend fortement de la saison et apparaît principalement au printemps. On peut identifier l’agent pathogène sans symptômes au sein de la colonie durant toute l’année.
Metamorphosis is a major transformation of the body and way of life during the development and life cycle of certain animals, such as amphibians and some insects. It represents an evolutionary adaptation of an organism to its respective environmental conditions. In zoology, it refers to the transformation from the larval form to the adult, sexually mature animal.
Varroa is known to suck the haemolymph of bees. Well known, but apparently (largely) incorrect.
Researchers in the United States were intrigued by the magnitude of varroa’s impact on bee health in relation to the relatively small amount of haemolymph it extracts. Since insect haemolymph is comparatively poorer in nutrients than mammalian blood, they questioned how the parasite could develop on such a resource.
Would it not be interesting to preserve the alleles of the most productive or most important queens after their death? It is therefore not surprising that the cryopreservation of drone semen has been the subject of research since the 1970s. The risk of losing natural biodiversity is another motivation for this research.
By adopting a clean working method adapted to beekeeping practice, you significantly improve hygiene in the handling of your bees and thereby contribute to better colony health and more hygienic apicultural products.
Introducing a queen is not always straightforward. It is therefore worthwhile to plan this action carefully in order to successfully introduce queens that have been reared with great care and attention. Both the health status of the young queen and that of the colony play a decisive role in the success or failure of the operation. The bees inspect the young queen very closely. If she has any defect, for example a deformed or missing leg, or if she is insufficiently mated, the colony will reject her. In most cases, the bees allow the undesirable queen to lay eggs for a short period, but then build queen cells to rear a queen without defects.
The winter months can be used to clean all beekeeping equipment. This may not only help to prevent certain diseases, but it is also a pleasure to find tools in good condition in spring, and above all tools that are not sticky.
Dioecious tree or shrub with deciduous leaves. The male flowers have yellow anthers; the female flowers are inconspicuous, greenish, and develop at maturity into capsules rich in seeds.
Our bee populations are not always able to defend themselves against diseases and pests on their own. They therefore rely on you, beekeepers, to support them. In this regard, the fact sheets developed by the Bee Health Service (BHS) can be a valuable resource.
The search for a suitable apiary location is subject to several conditions, including access to nectar and pollen resources. It is therefore important to be able to identify the different local plant species in order to assess the availability of these resources, or even to increase them if possible.
<p><strong>by R. Prasad</strong></p>
<p>The defense of a society often requires certain specialized members to coordinate in order to repel a threat at the risk of their lives. This is particularly true for honey bees, which defend the hive and may sacrifice their lives when stinging. At the core of this cooperative defensive response lies the sting alarm pheromone, whose main component is isoamyl acetate (IAA).</p>
The question comes up every year: should colonies be fed at the end of winter or not? The answer needs to be nuanced. Food reserves have a direct impact on the queen’s egg-laying activity. It is well known that generous reserves and regular nectar inputs clearly stimulate egg laying, and when pollen is abundant, nurse bees operate at full capacity.
Des reines non marquées sont parfois très difficiles à retrouver. Nous recommandons d’avoir le matériel de marquage à disposition lors de chaque examen de colonie, de manière à toujours pouvoir marquer des reines qui ne le sont pas. Il faut un bon coup d’œil pour cela et tous les apiculteurs n’ont pas forcément le talent de découvrir des reines. Quand un nucléus doit être formé ou une reine introduite, l’apiculteur est alors souvent embarrassé.
Chemical control of harmful organisms has been known for millennia. The application of sulfur, lead, or arsenic was already practiced in ancient Greece. Closer to our time, the insecticidal properties of tobacco (nicotine) were known as early as the 17th century. In the 19th century, chemistry made major advances, and new copper sulfate–based compounds made it possible to control fungal diseases of grapevines. In the 20th century, mercury salts began to be used for seed treatment. Because of their toxicity, these substances were quickly banned.
The dandelion, scientifically known as Taraxacum officinale and commonly referred to as “dandelion,” is a flowering plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. It is a perennial herbaceous plant (living for several years) that is widely distributed across a wide range of habitats, particularly on nutrient-rich soils, in lowlands as well as in mountainous regions up to elevations of about 2,500 m. Flowering begins in April and reaches its peak in May, but continues at a lower intensity into autumn, especially during dry and warm summers.
American foulbrood is a bacterial disease. Under optimal conditions, the bacteria multiply by cell division. When conditions become unfavourable, spores are formed that remain infectious for decades. These highly infectious spores are distributed within the colony in the brood nest through the cleaning and maintenance activities of worker bees. Infection by spores occurs via the royal jelly on which larvae feed during the first 48 hours of their life. Adult bees are not infected but can act as carriers of the pathogen. A completely dried larva forming a crust may contain more than 2 billion spores.
Among the various goldenrod species with invasive characteristics are the late or giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) and the Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis). It is rather difficult to distinguish between these two invasive species originating from North America, especially as they readily hybridise with one another.
Vitellogenin is a protein that is highly abundant in winter bees and may play a role in stimulating their immune system. Studies show a correlation between vitellogenin levels and the winter survival chances of honey bee colonies.
Impact of varroa infestation on thermoregulation in honey bee colonies: new findings indicate that varroa mites reduce bees’ ability to effectively regulate their body temperature, making them more vulnerable to cold temperatures.
The beekeeping calendar presented below was created by a hobby beekeeper using his own approach. The tasks to be carried out each month depend strongly on the region, altitude, type of hive, type of bees, and many other factors. This calendar was designed to help beginners in our association and our region manage their first hives throughout the year and to provide answers to the questions they may have from month to month.
Melliferous plants, apicultural plants, mellitophilous plants… all these terms refer to plants that are of interest to bees. But what do they really mean, and which term is the most appropriate?
Le Service sanitaire apicole et le CRA ont élaboré ensemble une liste totalement mise à jour avec les préparations apicoles recommandées. Outre des médicaments vétérinaires et des produits de désinfection en cas d’épizootie, elle contient également les autres préparations utilisées dans l’apiculture (à l’exception des aliments pour les abeilles).
In the hive, as we have seen, water serves multiple purposes: it is indispensable for both mature and immature individuals and also enables bees to regulate the nest climate during periods of high heat. As water is hardly stored within the hive, it must be brought in from outside as needs arise. This task is carried out by water carriers, specialised foragers that continue their work even under adverse conditions.
It has become clear that honey bees can develop several strategies to reduce infestation by Varroa. This has been demonstrated both in untreated wild colonies and in selected colonies (such as bees exhibiting the VSH behaviour of the USDA in Bâton-Rouge). Resistance strategies can be classified into two types: those associated with the brood and those associated with the period during which Varroa is present on adult bees.
If it thunders in November, the year will be good
October wind and November rain make a good December
These sayings herald rain in November. It supports the development of root systems in trees and perennial plants. For the colonies, the dormant season has already begun. Confined to their hives, the bees consume their reserves.
Brood interruption replaces the first summer treatment with formic acid. The second summer treatment must be carried out as before in order to keep the level of mite infestation as low as possible until the winter treatment and to prevent potential reinvasions. Only in exceptional cases, and in very isolated apiaries with regular infestation monitoring, is it possible to dispense with the second summer treatment.
Formic acid (Formivar) is highly corrosive. Its handling requires great caution. In all cases, protective goggles, acid-resistant gloves, and long-sleeved clothing must be worn.
The rhododendron is an emblematic melliferous plant and ranks among the most important nectar sources in mountain regions. In Switzerland, two species are present: Rhododendron ferrugineum, which grows on acidic soils, and Rhododendron hirsutum, which prefers calcareous soils.
It may happen, for example during the first spring inspection, that one encounters a moribund colony with no food reserves, with frames showing scattered brood of the male type … What has happened?
Figure 1: Drone-laying colony: very small population, scattered drone brood, no worker brood, low food reserves, no visible queen, deformed combs, drone cells.
There are many methods of queen rearing. All of them are based on the same principles. Every beekeeper knows that, outside the swarming period, a colony with a queen will not accept the rearing of additional queens without specific precautions (in general, the presence of the queen prevents or destroys any queen rearing). Queen-rearing techniques consist in the practical implementation of these “precautions”.
American foulbrood is a serious and highly contagious brood disease. Incorrectly regarded by beekeepers as a shameful disease, many preconceived ideas about it persist. This is a good opportunity to revisit and clarify the subject.
This contagious disease of the honey bee is caused by SBV, the abbreviation of its English name Sacbrood Bee Virus. It is present worldwide and generally affects capped brood, leading to more or less significant mortality of prepupae, which may result in colony weakening.
This disease is characterised by the typical sac-like appearance of the prepupae killed by the virus. Infected adult bees show no symptoms (they are asymptomatic carriers) but constitute reservoirs of the virus.
Nous recommandons de quadriller le plateau à l’aide d’un feutre indélébile afin de faciliter les comptages ultérieurement. Pour pouvoir compter les varroas de manière fiable, il est très important de protéger le plateau avec un grillage et de vérifier que les fourmis n’y ont pas accès, vu que celles-ci mangent les acariens tombés.
Varroosis promotes drifting, a mechanism explained by the fact that bees from heavily infested colonies lose the specificity of their cuticular chemical profile as well as the accuracy of their orientation. What can we learn from wild colonies?
This fact sheet provides guidance on assessing bee health. Regular monitoring of colonies makes it possible to identify potential health problems at an early stage and to implement planned and targeted measures. It is essential to check and assess colonies at least in spring (when grape hyacinths are in bloom), in summer (between the summer honey harvest and the first summer treatment), and in October (before overwintering).
When one speaks of alfalfa, one first thinks of cultivated alfalfa, Medicago sativa, a perennial herbaceous plant native to the Middle East with blue-violet flowers; however, there are other species with flowers in different shades, ranging from yellow to white, via green and brown. All are highly melliferous.
Sea buckthorn, whose scientific name is Hippophae rhamnoides, is an evergreen plant belonging to the botanical family Elaeagnaceae. This hardy and highly ornamental shrub, which can reach a height of up to 4 metres, has a densely branched stem with thorny shoots on which small, fleshy, orange-coloured berries develop, resulting from the development of the floral receptacle after fertilisation.
Les cycles de développement de Varroa destructor et de l’abeille sont intimement liés. Depuis l’apparition du varroa en Europe au début des années 80, de nombreux type de traitement chimique ont été préconisés et employés pour le traitement de la varroase. Les résidus chimiques de synthèse et des molécules persistantes, se sont retrouvées dans la cire d’abeille contribuant au fil des années à la sélection des varroas résistants. Ainsi il est possible de gérer les populations de varroas en intervenant sur le cycle de l’abeille. L’encagement de la reine pour obtenir une colonie sans couvain est un exemple de méthode biomécanique intéressante pour gérer la varroose.
Matthieu Guichard (Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern) conducted a long-term study between 2010 and 2018 on approximately 1000 Carnica honey bee colonies and approximately 1000 Mellifera honey bee colonies, aiming to determine the heritability of various traits: honey yield, gentleness, comb adherence, swarming tendency, hygienic behaviour, and Varroa infestation.
<p>Members of an “Apis mellifera” colony share the same olfactory signature, emitted by their cuticular hydrocarbons and linked to a specific intestinal bacterial flora.</p>
Au cours de l’année dernière, des articles traitant de falsification de cire ont souvent été publiés dans la presse spécialisée. Les dégâts consistent en affaissement de rayons, du couvain lacunaire sur des rayons fraîchement construits et des abeilles restées coincées au moment de l’éclosion. A l’origine de ces problèmes : l’adjonction de stéarine, de paraffine ou d’autres substances organiques. Des résidus de pesticides peuvent également occasionner des dégâts. Comme on le sait d’expérience avec les boules de naphtaline, il existe également le risque que des adjonctions chimiques indésirables dans la cire apparaissent plus tard dans le miel.
The major concern of beekeepers at present, in our regions, is the approach of a disease coming from the East […] [known as] varroosis. […] It is a parasite that feeds on the blood of bees, which die from exhaustion. First detected in Siberia, the disease is spreading across the whole of Eurasia; it appeared in Russia, then in Eastern European countries, and has reached the Federal Republic of Germany. France and Switzerland are currently spared. Bees are not imported from countries affected by the scourge, which makes it possible to delay (or even halt?) the advance of the disease.
L’impartial, 23 March 1983.
La santé des colonies d’abeilles et le succès de l’apiculture dépendent souvent de l’emplacement des ruchers. Il vaut la peine de choisir soigneusement les emplacements et de vérifier leur adéquation avec 2 - 3 colonies. Dans un endroit optimal, les colonies se développent rapidement et fortement au printemps. De beaux nids de couvain et suffisamment de réserves de pollen et de nectar sont un bon signe.
La création de variétés d'hybrides F1 nécessite un important travail de sélection préalable de lignées pures dans des populations différentes, puis des tests de croisements de ces lignées pures. Pour bénéficier d'un effet d'hétérosis (voir plus bas) maximum, il faut que ces lignées soient très différentes (en croisant des pools génétiques différents, comme des origines géographiques autrefois isolées), en outre il faut pouvoir y introduire les caractères recherchés, donc disposer de ce que les généticiens appellent un « réservoir de variabilité ».
Les asters sont des plantes herbacées vivaces de la famille des astéracées ou composées. Leur nom dérive du grec aster = fleur.
Ce sont des fleurs ornementales très largement cultivées dans les jardins, dont il existe plus de 250 espèces. La plupart sont originaires d’Amérique du Nord, mais certaines ont été importées d’Asie, alors que d’autres sont européennes.
The formation of a young colony using a nucleus with consolidated brood reduces swarming and lowers varroa pressure in production colonies. Young colonies are formed from brood frames taken from several strong and healthy colonies, from which frames are repeatedly removed in May/June—predominantly capped brood (each time one brood frame per colony).
Le safran, épice très appréciée en cuisine, correspond aux pistils séchés d’une espèce de crocus, crocus sativus ou safran cultivé. C’est une plante herbacée vivace à bulbe, dont la fleur a six tépales (tépales = pièces constitutives d’une fleur similaires aux pétales) mauves striés de violet.
The deformed wing disease virus (DWV) is one of the most widespread viruses in Apis mellifera and one of the least virulent. In the absence of facilitating factors, it causes only a covert infection, that is, an infection without clinical signs.
Comme tout être vivant, l’abeille peut être malade. L’apiculteur doit être vigilant, car une maladie peut avoir des conséquences graves surtout s’il s’agit d’une « maladie réputée contagieuse » (MRC). L’apiculteur qui pratique sa passion depuis plusieurs années, repère immédiatement la moindre anomalie sur ses ruches. Pour l’apiculteur débutant, il est parfois très difficile de détecter une maladie et c’est pour cela qu’il doit être bien plus observateur, beaucoup plus curieux et toujours très attentif à ce qui se passe sur la planche de vol.
Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) is a contagious disease that is transmitted mainly through direct contact and the exchange of food. Bees crowded tightly in the hive, prolonged periods of poor weather, long transports during migratory beekeeping, heavy forest nectar flows, and a high density of colonies in an environment with limited food supply appear to favour the occurrence of the disease. The virus can be fatal for infected adult bees. In general, only a few colonies are affected.
Le romarin (Rosmarinus officinalis) est une plante typique du littoral méditerranéen, où il pousse à l’état sauvage ; cependant il existe de nombreuses variétés horticoles qui sont plus rustiques et qui s’adaptent à des températures plus froides.
It is the first month of winter; cold and snow may sometimes be present. The hive entrances must be monitored and cleared of any snow that may have accumulated there.
Monoecious deciduous tree or shrub. The flowers are unisexual, yellow-green, and arranged in racemes or panicles. The samara (fruit) consists of two seeds joined in a helical shape and is dispersed by wind. Species of importance for bees include: sycamore maple (A. pseudoplatanus), Norway maple (A. platanoides), and field maple (A. campestre).
The adaptive strategies of imitation make mimicry a model of a complex coevolutionary mechanism involving a first species acting as a model (e.g. Apis cerana) and a second, imitating species (e.g. Varroa destructor), very often parasitic. Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite of bees, has the ability to mimic the chemical composition of its host’s cuticle; moreover, it is also capable of modifying this composition according to the species it parasitizes.
Oxalic acid is harmful to health. Vapours or dusts of this acid must not be inhaled or come into contact with the skin. It must be handled with the greatest caution. In all cases, protective goggles, acid-resistant rubber gloves, an FFP3 protective mask and long-sleeved clothing must be worn.
During treatment, make sure not to stand in the oxalic acid cloud. Colonies must be treated from the outside (not inside the bee house). As it is impossible to completely avoid contact with the vapours, we recommend wearing a half mask or a full-face mask equipped with an activated charcoal filter. This provides effective protection. Attention: filters have an expiry date and must always be stored in a sealed plastic bag.
When a honey bee colony reaches a certain level of development, part of the population may leave the hive to form a new colony. This division is called swarming.
This is the natural reproduction of the colony viewed as a superorganism. It enables reproduction and thus the survival of the species, and has done so for millions of years. However, beekeepers aim for colonies that develop well and become strong without swarming. What methods can be used to prevent swarming?
Quand une abeille change de rôle dans la ruche, son ADN s’adapte
Les abeilles tiennent toutes un rôle précis, mais évolutif, au sein de la ruche. Certains individus âgés pourraient au besoin reprendre des fonctions normalement exercées par des jeunes. Chose inconnue jusqu'alors, ce changement de comportement s'accompagnerait d'adaptations au niveau de l'ADN. Chaque rôle possède en effet son propre motif de méthylation.
Regular inspection of colonies makes it possible to identify potential health problems at an early stage and to implement planned and targeted measures. It is essential to check and assess colonies at least in spring (when grape hyacinths are in bloom), in summer (between the summer honey harvest and the first summer treatment), and in October (before overwintering).
Les scientifiques ont longtemps pensé que le code génétique d’un organisme déterminait à lui seul ses caractéristiques biologiques, son développement et son adaptation à son milieu. Sous l’influence de divers facteurs chimiques ou « extérieurs », l’épigénétique peut non seulement modifier l’apparence ou le comportement d’un organisme, mais également transmettre certaines de ces modifications aux générations suivantes…
<p>Oxalic acid is harmful to health. Vapors or dust from this acid must not be inhaled and must not come into contact with the skin. It must be handled with the greatest caution. In all cases, protective goggles, acid-resistant rubber gloves, an FFP3 protective mask, and long-sleeved clothing must be worn. </p>
<p>During treatment, ensure that you are not positioned within the oxalic acid cloud. Colonies must be treated from the outside (not inside the pavilion). As it is impossible to completely avoid contact with the vapors, we recommend wearing a half mask or a full-face mask equipped with an activated charcoal filter. This provides adequate protection. Attention: filters have an expiration date and must always be stored in a sealed plastic bag.</p>
One might assume that asexual reproduction leads to an evolutionary dead end, with the accumulation of deleterious mutations ultimately resulting in species extinction. Recent studies show that this is not the case, and the drone provides a well-studied example. The particular case of reproduction in Varroa destructor is illuminating: these mites exhibit fewer deleterious mutations than other sexually reproducing insects …
Examples of asexual reproduction in certain animals include: the hammerhead shark, the leopard shark, the sawfish, the sea anemone, the Komodo dragon, the gecko, the aphid, the scale insect …
Le séneçon du Cap (Senecio inaequidens) est une plante herbacée vivace de la famille des astéracées ou composées originaire d’Afrique du Sud, d’où elle a été importée accidentellement à travers le commerce de la laine. Sa tige ramifiée atteint 40 à 60 cm et porte des fleurs jaunes qui s’épanouissent longtemps, du début de l’été jusqu’en automne, et qui attirent les abeilles surtout pour leur pollen de couleur jaune.
La reproduction de reines en Mini Plus repose sur le principe de formation de jeunes colonies avec couvain. Outre le Mini Plus, il existe le Swiss Mini ou d’autres systèmes qui se prêtent parfaitement à la reproduction de reines. Une colonie Mini Plus à plusieurs hausses est répartie sur différentes ruchettes et chaque petite colonie ainsi formée élève sa propre reine. Six unités Mini Plus permettent aisément d’élever 3 à 4 nouvelles reines en un mois. Un point très important est que la reproduction ne soit effectuée qu’au sein de populations de qualité. Peut-être possédez-vous une vieille reine qui a fait ses preuves ou une reine achetée de pure race, prête pour la reproduction. La reproduction en Mini Plus est la base de la reproduction de reines.
October, the month of winter preparation
Autumn is the period of active preparation for wintering, both on the part of the bees and of the beekeeper, who is concerned about the well-being of the colonies.
A first treatment was carried out after the harvest, in the absence of honey supers, using formic acid or strips. A second treatment was administered at the beginning of September. Varroa drop was counted and does not exceed 1 per day. The objective is to overwinter colonies with fewer than 50 varroa mites per hive.
Pollen is the male reproductive organ of flowering seed plants. All of these flowers are therefore capable of providing pollen to pollinating insects; however, certain flower pollens may be avoided by bees for various reasons.
When a colony is affected by an incurable disease or is severely weakened, it must be eliminated. This is an important measure within the framework of the control and prevention of epizootics and diseases. In the event of suspected notifiable disease, the apiary inspector must be informed before eliminating the colony.
The location of the apiary is undoubtedly the most important choice. It will determine, of course, the harvest, the amount of time you will spend with your bees, and the various savings you will be able to make.
Researchers have observed that on the island of Gotland in Sweden, honey bee colonies that were abandoned and left untreated for ten years led to the emergence and selection of spontaneously varroa-resistant strains. Subsequently, several other naturally resistant colonies were discovered in other parts of the world. This article presents the state of the literature on the three phenomena influencing resistance behaviours of the honey bee in response to the varroa mite.
Pollinators use precise cues to identify flowers rich in pollen or nectar: colour, scent … Researchers have discovered that bees are also sensitive to temperature variations between different parts of a flower. These “thermal patterns” enable them to locate the flowers richest in food.
The process of swarm formation involves certain mechanisms that are necessary for bee health and that notably reduce varroa infestation. Capturing swarms is part of good beekeeping practice.
Overview of good beekeeping practice
There is no single good beekeeping practice. Rather, there are rules based on common sense and the experience of seasoned or professional beekeepers. While the queen is indeed the driving force of the colony, hive cleanliness, control of varroa, swarm-prevention strategies, apiary location and preparation for overwintering are just as important for the proper development of the colony with a view to a good honey harvest.
Varroa destructor est actuellement considéré comme la plus grande menace pesant sur la survie de l’abeille domestique (Rosenkranz et al. 2010). En effet, en plus d’engendrer des dommages directs aux abeilles par la consommation répétitive de leur corps gras et par la dépression de leur système immunitaire (Ramsey et al. 2019; Yang et Cox-Foster 2007), les varroas affectent également indirectement les abeilles par la transmission de plusieurs agents pathogènes dont, notamment, le virus des ailes déformées (Boecking et Genersch 2008).
The expression may come as a surprise and calls for some clarification. “Insemination with a single male” refers to the insemination of a queen using the semen of a single drone, instead of the 12 to 20 males involved in natural mating or conventional instrumental insemination. This article presents this specific technique and its contexts of use. An overview of our current knowledge regarding the benefits and the present limitations of this technique!
“On Saint Clotilde’s day, from flower to bush, the bee forages in abundance.”
In June, the major blossom periods of fruit trees are over, but shrub flowers remain important until August. Everything – or almost everything – reaches maturity. Colony development, which peaked at the end of May, now determines the potential for honey harvest. Queen rearing becomes less successful, and a nectar dearth begins in some regions. The risk of starvation looms, even as foragers remain highly active at the hive entrance.
The division of a colony is carried out for various reasons :
- increase of the colony stock,
- replacement of a dead colony that has become drone-laying,
- risk of swarming in a very strong colony,
- creation of nuclei for trade,
- or reserve colonies to compensate for expected losses in the following year …
There are many different and very simple methods for dividing hives.
The method described below works well :
A very recent American study challenges the dogma of queen rearing that has existed since the late 1890s.
From their initiation into queen rearing, beekeepers have been taught that the factor determining the caste of larvae originating from fertilized eggs is the duration of feeding with royal jelly.
If a larva is fed exclusively with royal jelly during the six days preceding cell capping, the adult insect that emerges on day 16 will be a (virgin) queen. By contrast, if the same larva is fed with a mixture of honey and pollen during the last three days before capping, a sterile worker will emerge on day 21. A very recent American study published in 2020 by the Royal Society challenges this long-established dogma.
Gilbert Duruz is a beekeeper in Switzerland, in the upper Rhône Valley. He is a beekeeping trainer, queen breeder, tester for the Swiss Romand selection programme of the Carnica bee, and president of the Association Suisse Romande des Éleveurs de Reines (ARAE). He presents his breeding and renewal method under continental and mountain conditions.
To rear drones or not to rear drones – that is the question posed to our bees with the return of the favourable season. Within a colony, males are indeed a luxury: they are far more costly to rear than workers. And the expense does not end at emergence: as adults, drones largely remain dependent on their sisters. In addition, they contribute nothing to foraging activities and very little to hive maintenance. Yet this luxury is necessary: the sole function of males, the transmission of genes, lies at the very heart of the biological meaning of life. Maximising the chances of reproduction while preserving those of survival – it is this subtle balance, to which both the queen and her workers contribute, that we propose to explore today.
Im չափfect clones without sons, males without fathers but with a maternal grandfather, twins through their fathers, sisters through their mothers, daughters as full or half-sisters …
Let us get straight to the point: honey bee genetics is truly unusual! With bees, one must set aside what is known from human reproduction, where each parent contributes half of the chromosomes—the mother via the egg, the father via the sperm. This is not the case in bees!
There is a simple and fairly reliable method for adjusting (calibrating) the refractometer: using extra virgin olive oil.
According to a test conducted by Dr. Werner von der Ohe from the Bee Institute in Celle, calibration of the refractometer with extra virgin olive oil at a temperature of 20 ºC is possible. Tests using three different extra virgin olive oils showed a maximum deviation of 0.08 % (see the article published below in ADIZ – die biene – Imkerfreund).
Le petit coléoptère de la ruche (Aethina tumida) est un ravageur redouté des colonies d'abeilles, dont les adultes et les larves mangent le miel, le pollen et de préférence le couvain. Les pays européens étaient considérés jusqu'ici comme indemnes du petit coléoptère de la ruche. Les annonces de septembre 2014 concernant la découverte d'Aethina tumida dans le sud de l'Italie sont alarmantes et requièrent également de la part des apicultrices et apiculteurs suisses une attention accrue et le contrôle régulier de leurs propres colonies d'abeilles.
L’acide formique est très corrosif. Sa manipulation exige une grande prudence. Il faut dans tous les cas porter des lunettes de protection, des gants résistants aux acides et des vêtements à manches longues.
Une moustiquaire empêche les abeilles de monte dans le diffuseur. Le contrôle est ainsi facile.
When a beekeeper looks at the head of his bees and sees the two large, immobile compound eyes positioned on either side of the head, as well as the three ocelli located on the forehead or vertex, he inevitably asks himself the question: with these two large eyes, can my bees see the same things as I do, or do they perceive the world differently? And why are there additional eyes on the head?
To unravel the mysteries of crystallization, the authors explore the world of science and delve into the heart of the product: principles of chemistry and physics, together with a measure of common sense, are essential to understand it and to highlight the different factors that can influence it.
Il existe plusieurs circonstances dans lesquelles cette opération apicole s’impose mais le cas le plus grave et qui requiert le plus de précautions est celui de la loque américaine. Le contenu de cette fiche concerne donc le cas particulier de cette maladie.
Communication in bees is highly elaborate and has been the subject of numerous studies. There is, of course, the well-known “waggle dance” or “figure-eight dance,” but what is less well known is that this dance serves solely to indicate the location of a food source. While dancing, the bee releases chemical messengers that recruit other foragers and inform them about the type and richness of the source. Communication therefore indeed relies on the exchange of chemical substances known as pheromones.
Wax from natural combs, cappings, and sorted super and brood frames can be melted down and processed into new sheets of foundation. If, contrary to the recommendations of the SSA/CRA, brood frames have come into contact with chemically synthesised anti-varroa products, they must be removed from the colonies, sealed airtight, and disposed of with household waste or used for candle production.
Unmarked queens can sometimes be very difficult to locate. We recommend having marking equipment available during every colony inspection, so that unmarked queens can always be marked when encountered. This requires a good eye, and not all beekeepers necessarily have the ability to reliably spot queens. When a nucleus colony needs to be formed or a queen introduced, the beekeeper is then often faced with a difficulty.
L’ailante globuleux (Ailanthus altissima), appelé aussi faux-verni du Japon, est un arbre de la famille des Simaroubaceae pouvant atteindre 25 à 30 mètres. Il est originaire de l’Asie orientale et a été importé volontairement en Europe au XVIIIème siècle à des fins ornementales, mais surtout dans le cadre de la production de la soie, la plante servant de nourriture à un papillon, le bombyx de l’ailante (Samia cynthia), censé remplacer le bombyx du mûrier (Bombyx mori).
The parasite capable of chemically mimicking two bee species
Researchers from the Institute for Research on Insect Biology (CNRS/Université François Rabelais de Tours) and the “Bees and Environment” laboratory of Inra, in collaboration with American and Chinese colleagues(1), have shown that Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite of bees that is able to imitate the chemical composition of the cuticle(2) of its host, can also modify this composition depending on the species it parasitises. This remarkable adaptive capacity could explain how this parasite of the Asian honey bee was able to colonise the European honey bee during the 20th century, thereby contributing to the decline of the species. These findings were published on 3 June 2015 in the journal Biology Letters.
The first difficulty for a beginner beekeeper is choosing a hive. There are many systems, and all of them have their advantages and disadvantages, their supporters and their critics. It is important to choose hives carefully so that the colony develops well, production is satisfactory, overwintering proceeds properly, and beekeeping remains a pleasure. Dadant, Langstroth, Voirnot, Alsacienne, WBC, Warré, Layens, Simplex, Zander, National … and all the others: which is the best hive? How can one make a decision when starting out in beekeeping and the opinions of the “experienced beekeepers” diverge?
Asian bees have developed an extraordinary technique to defend themselves against attacks by giant hornets. They cover their hive with animal droppings.
The composition of neutral lipids of New Zealand propolis wax was determined with the use of Thin Layer Chromatography, Solid Phase Extraction, Gas Chromatography, and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Neutral lipids in the sample were represented mostly by wax esters, long-chain hydrocarbons, and free fatty acids. Low levels of free fatty alcohols were also observed, accompanied by even lower levels of 1-O-alkylglycerols. Wax esters consisted mostly of saturated non-hydroxylated and mono-hydroxylated fatty acids and alcohols, with some monounsaturated non-hydroxylated esters also present. Non-hydroxylated fatty acids contained from 16 to 36 carbon atoms, whilst hydroxylated acids contained from 14 to 26 carbon atoms. While almost 11% of non-hydroxylated fatty acids were monounsaturated, only trace levels of monounsaturated hydroxylated fatty acids were observed. Fatty alcohol moieties of wax esters were predominantly saturated and contained mostly from 24 to 34 carbon atoms per molecule. No polyhydroxylated fatty components were detected in the sample. Overall, the composition of the sample resembled that of beeswax.
The Asian hornet has continued its expansion since its arrival in France 20 years ago.
In 2024, it has reached the borders of Valais, and the Saint-Maurice gorge will most likely not constitute an insurmountable barrier for this highly well-adapted invader.
The choice of an appropriate location is, among other factors, one of the key determinants for a successful transhumance. Before, during, and after transhumance, certain aspects must be taken into account.
by ELIZABETH TIBBETTS AND ADRIAN DYER
Recognizing the facial features of conspecifics does not require a brain as complex as one might imagine: some insects, notably bees, are remarkably adept at this.
En cas de forte infestation par les frelons ou en guise de protection contre les souris.
The glandular system, the circulatory, respiratory and nervous systems, as well as the digestive, excretory and reproductive systems, will be presented in turn in the following fact sheets. When addressing the internal anatomy of the honey bee, an anatomical plate is more informative than lengthy explanations.
The garden aster is a perennial herbaceous plant reaching 90–150 cm in height and flowering from August to November. Native to North America, Aster novi-belgii was introduced to Europe in the 18th century as an ornamental plant. Having escaped cultivation, it now grows spontaneously in many places, preferably on rather calcareous soils: in gardens, meadows and moist woodlands.
Apple and pear trees are among the main pome fruit trees in Switzerland. They are of great economic importance, and numerous varieties are cultivated. They are deciduous trees or shrubs. The flowers are hermaphroditic and are white to slightly pink with yellow anthers in the cultivated apple (M. domestica, originally M. sylvestris), whereas they are white (rarely pink) with dark red anthers in the cultivated pear (P. communis, originally P. pyraster).
For honey bees, willow is one of the first food sources at the end of winter. Beekeepers time their spring inspection according to the flowering of the catkins of the male plant.
Mower-conditioners provide valuable services for intensive forage production because the grass dries more quickly and thus yields forage richer in nutrients. However, for bees and other small creatures such as spiders, these machines are deadly.
Horizontal or creeping cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis) is a shrub native to China that was introduced to Europe at the end of the 19th century. For a long time, it remained confined to parks and gardens, where it is appreciated for forming a dense ground cover that blankets rock gardens and stabilises slopes.
La qualité des sirops utilisés pour le nourrissement d’hiver des abeilles est très souvent au centre de discussions
très animées. Quelles doivent être les principales qualités d’un sirop:
- De composition proche du miel
- Facilement assimilable par l’abeille
- Demandant un minimum d’énergie pour la transformation et le stockage
- Bonne solubilité (pas de cristallisation)
- Bonne stabilité (pas de fermentation)
- Bonne pureté et bonne viscosité
What is the approximate brood volume as a function of the queen’s egg-laying capacity? How many brood frames does the queen need in order to lay eggs without space limitation?
Bien que peu nombreuses, des colonies d’abeilles A. mellifera mellifera sauvages ou férales existent bel et bien dans la nature et résistent au varroa du fait de leur petite taille, de leur tendance à l’essaimage de la faible densité de l’habitat et probablement par la sélection naturelle. Les études prouvent également que ces souches d’abeilles noires sont pures, sans hybridation. En conséquence, les chercheurs plaident pour que soit développée une politique de conservation de ces populations d’abeilles, parce qu’elles constituent une espèce sauvage probablement en régression, mais aussi un réservoir génétique intéressant d’un point de vue apicole.
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Guide de la santé des abeilles
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(by Jean-Michel Normand)
Is it because it provides honey and wax? Or because its sophisticated organisation strangely echoes human societies? Or perhaps because of a character that is at once fierce and disciplined, making its domestication uncertain, or because of the way it positions itself at the confluence of the plant and animal worlds. Protean and tinged with mystery, the fascination exerted by the bee has endured for millennia, albeit with periods of interruption.
The main environmental determinants of caste development in bees arise from larval nutrition: royal jelly stimulates the differentiation of larvae into queens, whereas bee bread leads to the development of worker bees. However, these determinants have not yet been fully characterized.
The disease is caused by a virus. The pathogen can multiply both in adult bees and in the brood. In contrast to elongated larvae or prepupae, which may become diseased and die, no clinical symptoms are visible in infected adult bees, but their lifespan is reduced.
Invasive plants are non-native plant species that have been introduced intentionally or accidentally by humans outside their area of origin and that reproduce and spread extensively, to the detriment of native species. Most often originating from other continents, they profoundly disrupt ecosystems and reduce local biological diversity.
Les apiculteurs sont tenus de soigner convenablement leurs colonies et de prendre toutes les mesures qui s’imposent pour les maintenir en bonne santé (OFE art. 59, al. 1). Ils procèdent par conséquent à des contrôles réguliers. Tous les cadres doivent être inspectés à cette occasion. La colonie est complètement désassemblée puis rassemblée. Préparez-vous à l’avance au contrôle des colonies afin que les ruches ne restent pas ouvertes inutilement longtemps. Lorsque vous examinez les ruches, veillez à travailler calmement. Des apiculteurs stressés ont des abeilles stressées.
A diverse and continuous food supply is very important for the health of honey bee colonies. In nature, the availability of food varies greatly over the course of the year. Particularly problematic are the pre-spring period beginning in mid-February (reduced pollen availability for feeding larvae) and the phase following the first honey harvest (nectar shortage from approximately mid-May to mid-July).
The bee is an insect belonging to the order Hymenoptera (together with wasps, ants, etc.). Hymenopterans are equipped with two pairs of wings, three pairs of legs, and articulated appendages. Their body is composed of three distinct parts: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen.
Septembre se montre souvent comme un second et court printemps
Ce dicton nous rappelle qu’après les chaleurs et sècheresses des deux mois précédents, la pluie qui est revenue alors que le soleil est encore abondant et chaud, permet à la végétation de repartir. Les fleurs sont là, les butineuses vont rentrer nectar et pollen. Depuis quelques années ce printemps s’allonge jusqu’en octobre.
by Yves Martignoni and Julien Balet
What do breeding instructors do? What is breeding? Is it something within my reach? These are some of the questions we will attempt to address in this article.
All colonies in an apiary—whether production colonies or young colonies—should be strong and dynamic. This significantly reduces the risk of disease and offers not only better yield prospects but also requires less investment of time and money.
For this reason, small but healthy colonies should be maintained by combining them in spring or autumn with a stronger colony. This regrouping also increases the propensity for honey flow in spring and allows for a safe replacement of the queen within the colonies. In late autumn, when the bees have already formed their winter cluster, a colony should comprise at least five well-filled frames. If this is not the case, the colonies must be combined. A strong colony has much better chances of surviving the winter.
Some acaricides used in alternative control strategies against Varroa, such as formic acid or essential oils, do not always provide sufficient efficacy. As complementary measures, we recommend the removal of drone brood or the establishment of young colonies in spring. These interventions aim to slow the development of Varroa populations and thereby reduce infestation pressure. They have the advantage of being applicable during the main beekeeping season, whereas the use of chemotherapy would entail significant risks of contaminating honey harvests.
Deciduous trees and shrubs with hermaphroditic white to slightly pink flowers that develop into edible fruits of various colours. In Switzerland, the wild cherry (P. avium), plum (P. domestica), sour cherry (P. cerasus), apricot (P. armeniaca), and blackthorn (P. spinosa) are commonly found.
Among Asian knotweeds, the Japanese knotweed, whose scientific names are Fallopia japonica, Polygonum japonicum or Reynoutria japonica, is the most widespread. It belongs to the Polygonaceae family and originates from the Far East (eastern China, Japan, Korea). Introduced to Europe in the 19th century for its ornamental and forage properties, it proved to be invasive, spreading rapidly across large areas, particularly in moist environments.
The Institute of Apicultural Research at the University of Hohenheim has discovered an active substance against varroa: lithium chloride.
This is very good news, although the active substance—before being placed on the market as a medicinal product for bees—must of course undergo further testing to determine the optimal dosage and to rule out side effects for bees and users as well as the risk of residues. It will therefore still take some time before varroa control can be optimised.
Chaque apiculteur a le devoir d’indiquer les informations suivantes sur chaque pot de miel vendu (ODAIOUs art. 26, ordonnance sur l’étiquetage, OEDAI):
Les abeilles et le couvain supportent mieux des températures élevées que le varroa. L’hyperthermie utilise cet état de fait et réduit le nombre d’acariens par traitement thermique. Toutefois, des dégâts au couvain ne peuvent pas être totalement évités. Sur la base des résultats actuels de la recherche, des effets négatifs de l’hyperthermie sur les abeilles qui éclosent après traitement ne peuvent pas non plus être exclus.
Une colonie d’abeille ne peut exister sans une reine. Elle est le seul individu femelle fertile de la colonie. Il y a normalement une seule reine adulte accouplée par ruche. Elle est habituellement la mère de la plupart, sinon de la totalité, des abeilles de la ruche. Grâce aux phéromones qu'elle sécrète, la reine parvient à influencer les abeilles de sa colonie. De plus, les caractéristiques tels que vitalité, douceur, comportement d’essaimage, résistance aux maladies ou la pérfomance sont détérminés par la reine.
La bonne pratique apicole: A la fin juillet, l’apiculteur prélève le miel récolté dans la hausse et prépare sa colonie pour l’hiver (nourrissement et traitements). L’importante colonie qui occupait le corps et la hausse se retrouve carrément à l’étroit sans la hausse et les vieilles butineuses disparaîtront dans les semaines qui suivent. Une méthode simple permet de donner une 2e vie à ces abeilles en créant des nuclei d’été.
The structure used to house bees has evolved considerably over time. Early beekeepers used pottery vessels, hollow walls, sections of tree trunks, or woven baskets, sometimes covered with dried earth. A few examples of these systems are still in use, but the framed hive system has gradually become the standard.
Last year, the publication of specialised articles on the contamination and adulteration of beeswax shook the beekeeping community. Among beekeepers, awareness has grown regarding the importance of the condition of wax: indeed, both the quality of our products and, of course, the health of our colonies depend on it (1).
Although the wax moth has a very bad reputation, beekeeping manuals often underestimate the damage caused by the larvae of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella and the lesser wax moth Achroea grisella, which consume everything that comes within reach of their mandibles (wax, food reserves, pollen stores, wood, polystyrene—not to mention the brood!). It is commonly assumed that strong colonies can defend themselves very easily against wax moths … but this is not always the case. In fact, wax moths reproduce very rapidly, and the larvae of the greater wax moth feed on capped brood, sheltered from counter-attacks by worker bees. As a result, the bee population may decline, as may the colony’s defences against this formidable pest. Selection for overly gentle bees and the pheromonal mimicry of the wax moth, which imitates queen pheromones, can ultimately lead to colony collapse.
Despite these harmful effects, it should be emphasised that wax moths fulfil an important hygienic function, especially in the context of “poor” beekeeping practices. They destroy abandoned bee nests and return the recovered materials to the natural cycle. In this way, pathogens responsible for diseases such as American foulbrood and European foulbrood are also eliminated.
The ITSAP (http://blog-itsap.fr/) participated in a European trial on the brood interruption technique in varroa control, which aimed to quantify efficacy, the impact on colony development, and the practicality of different approaches, whether combined or not with the use of oxalic acid. Here is a summary of the results and discussion of the scientific article (Büchler et al.) published this year in the Journal of Apicultural Research.
Perennial herbaceous plants with toothed leaves arranged in a basal rosette. The robust stems bear large inflorescences composed of numerous bisexual flowers, which may be yellow, orange or blue. The spherical infructescence consists of seeds that are dispersed by the wind thanks to their umbrella-shaped pappus.
In Switzerland, for example, the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), chicory (Cichorium intybus), as well as various species of hawk’s-beard (Crepis sp.) and hawkweed (Hieracium sp.) belong to the so-called “dandelion forms” (whose pollen is difficult to distinguish).
The articles proposed by experienced beekeepers for the training of younger colleagues remind us that colonies should be carefully insulated for overwintering.
However, a recent German study reports that there is no advantage, in terms of brood initiation or colony development in spring, associated with sophisticated insulation of the colony. The dogma of insulating the winter cluster is thus being challenged. By discovering the precision of the winter cluster’s thermoregulation, the inquisitive beekeeper is prompted to reflect on their beekeeping practices.
The evaluation or selection of colonies does not concern breeders alone; it is also important for every beekeeper from the perspective of bee health. As a preventive measure, the ultimate aim is to retain only healthy and strong colonies within an apiary. This selection applies both to productive colonies and to young colonies.
These images are royalty-free and available for free download.
Please credit the author: S. Imboden – www.ApiSavoir.ch
In Switzerland, beekeeping is considered a leisure activity. Today, around 17,000 beekeepers look after approximately 188,000 colonies, with an average of 11 colonies per person. In Germany, an operation with more than 30 colonies is regarded as a hobby activity, while a professional beekeeper manages more than 300 colonies.
The amateur beekeeper is often well equipped to manage their colonies: observant, curious, motivated, enthusiastic, sometimes idealistic, often well coached, supported by introductory courses and the reading of numerous articles online; they share their concerns with colleagues and appreciate advice or even hands-on help from the “experienced” beekeepers… yet they often have no clear idea of what their hobby actually costs or earns! Reassurance comes from weighing the harvest: great, 15 kg of honey per colony!!! But what did those 30 jars they are so proud of really cost? What is the exact profit from selling the part of the production that was not consumed personally?
The experienced beekeeper asks a different question: what if I turned this hobby into my profession? What is the initial investment, and what turnover do I need to achieve to make a living?
The professional beekeeper must report to their bank and asks: how can I improve the profitability of my operation? How can I depreciate assets in order to renew my equipment?
How can risks related to poor harvest years or diseases be managed?
All three types of beekeepers have access to a user-friendly tool, developed with expertise and precision, to help them answer all questions related to financially responsible beekeeping.
Varroosis primarily affects the brood. The adult varroa mite measures approximately 1.6 mm in width and 1.1 mm in length. It reproduces exclusively in the brood and has no host other than the honey bee. The varroa mite itself is a carrier of bee viruses. It feeds on haemolymph (the “blood” of bees) and transmits viruses directly into the bee’s body. Without varroa treatment, or with insufficient varroa control, it weakens colonies to such an extent that they usually perish within one to two years.
The flowering of fruit trees has ended, as has that of oilseed rape. Where acacias are present, a certain amount of luck is required: the flower needs 19 °C to open and water to produce nectar. Fine, sunny weather with a clear sky—meaning cold nights and days influenced by the bise—causes the flowers to remain stubbornly closed. When warmth is present and accompanied by drought, the flowers are wide open but produce no nectar. Acacia honey is therefore often unpredictable in our regions; in Hungary, a major producer of this honey, breeding has made it possible to obtain acacias with later flowering.
In beekeeping supply stores, frames are available pre-assembled with or without wax, as well as frames to be assembled. For a pre-assembled frame with wax, a minimum cost of CHF 10 should be expected.
The economic benefit for beekeeping operations of removing drone brood as a complementary measure
to control varroa
Since the first article, we have received a large number of requests for clarification regarding the practical implementation
in the hive, followed by many very positive comments on the effects of this “mechanical treatment,” which poses no risk to bees or the queen. After recalling the context of the study and the way it was conducted, we now present the complete results over a two-year period.
Varroa destructor, a killing machine!
The many scientific articles available to beekeepers make it possible to understand the physiology of bees, drones and, of course, varroa. However, it is essential to grasp the relationships between these different actors within the hive and over the course of the months, that is, the pathophysiology of these three populations. Joseph Létondal provides a comprehensive perspective, and the curves in his diagrams allow potential varroa-related problems to be anticipated before it is too late. This video is very rich in a wide range of practical information.
Les paquets d’abeilles, tous semblables, mais tous différents par leur composition et leur utilisation.
La confection des paquets d’abeilles n’est pas une pratique habituelle en apiculture, car cette pratique demande un savoir-faire qui est rarement enseigné en rucherécole. Sur le net, beaucoup de vidéos ne donnent pas toutes les informations qui entourent cette technique, ce qui fait que lors de la mise en pratique par les apiculteurs, les résultats sont très souvent infructueux.
Par le prélèvement de couvain et d’abeilles, les varroas s’en retrouvent automatiquement réduits. Il faut prélever une partie du couvain d‘une colonie forte avec des abeilles mais sans reine et installer le tout dans une ruchette. Les abeilles vont élever elle-même une reine.
Professor Martin Giufra works at the Center for Research on Animal Cognition in Toulouse, France. He is a specialist in neurobiology, with a particular focus on neurocognition in invertebrates. The research team he leads has investigated the remarkable learning abilities of the honey bee’s small brain.
La balsamine de d’Himalaya ou balsamine glanduleuse (Impatiens glandulifera), d’origine asiatique, est un exemple typique de plantes qui divisent les apiculteurs, les jardiniers et les écologistes : très mellifère et très décorative, elle constitue pourtant un danger écologique, car elle a un caractère envahissant qui a un lourd impact sur la biodiversité locale.
The colour of pollen varies depending on the plant species: it ranges from white to black, but most often pollen is yellow or orange, as well as light brown or greenish. Based on colour, certain typical pollens can be recognised (for example, poppy pollen is black and phacelia pollen is blue), but only microscopic analysis allows precise identification of the pollen type.
Le centre de compétence et de prestations de services apiservice a été créé début 2013 en tant que filiale d’apisuisse, organisation interprofessionnelle des apicultrices et apiculteurs suisses. apiservice exploite en premier lieu le Service sanitaire apicole (SSA), s’engage en matière de formation, dirige le service spécialisé Elevage et soutient l’association faîtière apisuisse dans d’autres domaines.
This study entitled “Safeguarding pollinators and their values to human well-being” estimates that “75%
of major crops – cereals, fruits – depend on pollination by animal species”. Their disappearance would lead to a loss of 5 to 8% of global agricultural production, which would trigger an increase in potential resurgences of diseases linked to our dietary balance (heart disease) and would increase “by 1.4 million per year, the number of additional deaths”.
In nature, bees rear queens in spring during swarming in order to multiply colonies. They also rear queens in other situations, for example when the queen no longer performs satisfactorily after several years of egg-laying, or when the queen is accidentally lost. In these particular cases, queen rearing is not associated with swarming.
Berberis vulgaris est le nom scientifique de l’épine-vinette, un buisson qui doit son nom à une boisson légèrement fermentée produite à partir de ses baies rouges, qui rappelle le vin. Mais son intérêt pour les apiculteurs réside plutôt dans ses fleurs, qui produisent un nectar très abondant pendant les mois de mai et de juin.
Winter is receding; nights can still be cold, while days are warm, and a single night of frost can destroy all the blossoms of fruit trees. The warmth of the day and the length of sunshine should not lead to excessive optimism, as several consecutive days of rain can ruin flowering. Caution is therefore required: this is the month when colonies expand rapidly and the main work begins—spring inspection, stimulating comb building, monitoring swarming, and preparing queen rearing.
Reconnaître les maladies des abeilles et connaître les méthodes de lutte et de prévention effi caces sont des conditions sine qua non pour garantir la santé des abeilles et pour une bonne pratique apicole. Les maladies se propagent non seulement très rapidement à l’intérieur des ruches en raison des contacts physiques entre ouvrières et de la trophallaxie (échange de nourriture entre abeilles), mais aussi entre les ruches. Les abeilles pouvant voler sur de grandes distances, piller les colonies voisines ou y dériver, le risque qu’un grand nombre de colonies et de ruchers soit touché par une maladie ou une épizootie est important. Si l’on ajoute à cela le déplacement des ruches par l’apiculteur et la haute densité de ruchers en Suisse, la prévention des épizooties et des maladies est encore plus importante chez l’abeille que chez les autres animaux de rente qui peuvent être mis en quarantaine plus facilement.
Pour une colonie, l’hiver est une saison critique. Pour bien pouvoir la surmonter, il faut des abeilles saines, des colonies fortes et suffisamment de réserves de nourriture pour plusieurs mois. L’apiculteur prend déjà tôt dans l’année les mesures nécessaires pour un bon hivernage de ses abeilles.
In the honey bee, as in all insects, the haemolymph fills the entire internal cavity protected by the cuticle. This cavity is called the haemocoel. There is no network of veins and arteries: the organs are bathed in the haemolymph, which supplies the organism with the necessary components. It is referred to as an extracellular fluid. A long tubular vessel, the heart, pumps the haemolymph and ensures the circulation of the fluid throughout the organism.
Arbuste ou arbre monoïque anémophile à feuilles caduques. Les inflorescences mâles pendantes se composent de nombreuses petites fleurs individuelles. Les petites fleurs femelles sont renfermées dans un bourgeon d’où ne dépassent que les stigmates rouges et se développent en noisettes ovales et ligneuses.
The organs of the digestive system of the honey bee enable the assimilation of food. Certain glands are associated with the digestive system while also fulfilling peripheral functions, such as the production of nutritive substances or supporting food assimilation.
« À la saint Arsène, mets au sec tes graines. »
Juillet est le mois de la dernière récolte et du traitement chimique antivarroa d’été. C’est un mois souvent très chaud, où l’eau manque cruellement et les floraisons se raréfient. Les abeilles ont soif et sont amenées également à entamer leurs réserves. Pour l’apiculteur, l’activité demeure très dense, elle déterminera également en partie la suite de la saison.
Nos ruches souffrent durement de mortalités hivernales. Elles ne sont sans doute pas à imputer toutes aux pratiques apicoles, loin s’en faut ; mais dans un tel contexte, la seule chose que l’éleveur puisse faire, c’est mettre tout en œuvre pour que ses colonies aient, dès le début du printemps, la vigueur nécessaire à la reprise en force de l’élevage. L’époque où l’abeille s’élevait quasiment toute seule est révolue et nous ignorons si elle ne reviendra jamais : il nous faut affiner nos pratiques pour mettre toutes les chances du côté des colonies. C’est donc toute l’économie de la ruche qu’il nous faut considérer, et cela dès le début du mois de juillet.
Good apicultural practice: The advantage of spring nucleus colonies over summer nuclei is that they allow a first assessment of queen quality prior to overwintering, owing to an additional month of egg-laying activity.
Canadian fleabane (Conyza canadensis or Erigeron canadensis) and annual fleabane (Erigeron annuus or Stenactis annua) are annual herbaceous plants belonging to the Asteraceae family and originating from North America. They exhibit all the characteristics of invasive nectar-producing plants: exotic origin; rapid growth; production of a large number of wind-dispersed seeds that can be transported over several kilometres; ability to germinate in the smallest crevices; and strong attractiveness to pollinating insects, including honey bees.
Adherence to recommended treatment regimens against Varroa destructor improves the winter survival of honey bee colonies. Key findings:
- Compliance of beekeepers with recommended control measures against the mite Varroa destructor was assessed.
- Mite infestation levels and honey bee colony mortality were measured to evaluate the impact of compliance.
- Non-compliance resulted in higher mite infestation rates and increased colony mortality.
- A colony had up to a 25-fold higher risk of death when it was not treated as recommended.
- Communicating the impact of deviations from recommendations improves compliance.
En 2019, on apprenait, avec étonnement, que le varroa ne se nourrissait pas de l’hémolymphe des abeilles mais qu’il perçait leur cuticule pour ingérer leur fameux corps gras (►voir article).
Les recherches progressent très rapidement et on découvre, aujourd’hui, que la salive du varroa adulte lui permet de maintenir bien ouvert l’orifice qu’il a percé à travers la membrane de la nymphe ou de l’imago pour pouvoir liquéfier puis aspirer le corps gras. Une enzyme salivaire (la chitinase) diminuerait les défenses immunitaires de l’abeille et jouerait un rôle important dans la survie du varroa… on imagine tout naturellement un blocage de cette enzyme pour la future lutte contre le funeste parasite…
Les œufs pondus par la reine passent par plusieurs stades de développement. Le premier, qui dure à peine 3 jours, est le plus critique parce qu’il correspond au développement, à l'intérieur de l'œuf, du système nerveux et digestif de la larve qui va naître. Après l'éclosion de l’œuf, commence l'étape larvaire avec la naissance d’une larve sans antennes, sans yeux, sans pattes, sans ailes qui sera nourrie avec un régime composé exclusivement de gelée royale pendant 3 jours.
(Foto: kleinewelt)
Collecting pollen is no small task : bees therefore use several senses and different techniques to choose it.
Planning the beekeeping season makes it possible to prepare optimally for upcoming activities with our bees. Thanks to the operating concept developed by apiservice, this is easy to implement for all beekeepers. It is an indispensable tool for effective apiary management. The operating concept can be personalised and allows for a clear visualisation of beekeeping activities and the planning of the appropriate work.
For millions of years, honey bees have ensured the persistence of the species through swarming. Swarming is a process in which a colony divides into two populations. The resident queen leaves the hive, accompanied by a large proportion of workers of all ages, to form a swarm that quickly clusters into a tight ball. The swarm leaves behind in the original hive the nest with emerging brood, about one third of the workers, and queen cells ready to hatch. A young queen will replace the old one, and the re-formed colony will begin its development…
The effects of malnutrition in bees are well documented. There is an interaction between individual bees and the colony, and individual problems are reflected in the adult population and brood, which are reduced both qualitatively and quantitatively. Antonio Gómez Pajuelo is recognised as one of the world’s experts on bee nutrition. He conducted a survey involving 166 beekeepers.
Based on the videoconference by Prof. Joseph Hemmerlé on 11.01.2025, School of Agriculture Châteauneuf / Sion
Swarming is a natural phenomenon at the core of honey bee colony dynamics. Through this process, part of the colony, led by the old queen, leaves the hive to establish a new nest. For beekeepers, swarming represents a challenge, but it also constitutes an opportunity for colony renewal. Thanks to the in-depth research and careful observations conducted by Professor Joseph Hemmerlé, it is possible to gain a better understanding of the biological, ethological, and environmental mechanisms underlying this fascinating behaviour.
Phacelia, Phacelia tanacetifolia, is an annual herbaceous plant reaching a height of between 50 and 120 cm. It originates from California and Mexico and was introduced into Europe in the 19th century. It occurs near dwellings and on wasteland, where it can even become invasive; however, it is mainly cultivated as a green manure, as a forage crop, or as an intermediate crop.
A nightmare for some, an opportunity for others, an incredible hope for visionaries, the wax moth is an insect that intrigues all those interested in its evolution and its perfect adaptation to the hive and its superorganism. There are therefore three ways of viewing the wax moth: the beekeeper fears the damage it causes in hives; the entomologist marvels at the undertaker role played by the insect; researchers, for their part, focus on its highly ecological ability to digest highly polluting plastic. So what is this curious moth?
Weekly inspections during the swarming period make it possible to identify colonies in a swarming state and to divide them at the optimal time. This helps to avoid the capture or loss of swarms. Using the method described below, colonies are multiplied in a “natural” way.
An artificial swarm can reduce the varroa population. To this end, young bees must be taken from one or more colonies. Depending on the season, an artificial swarm should consist of 1 to 3 kg of young bees.
February is a short month—the shortest, but often the harshest: cold conditions frequently become very severe. The colonies consume large amounts of honey.
by AURORE AVARGUÈS-WEBER
Despite having a tiny brain with 100,000 times fewer neurons than ours, bees possess remarkable cognitive abilities. These hymenopterans can count, master concepts, reason by categories… and are even faster than great apes in certain tasks!
By repeatedly removing drone brood (on average three times), varroa infestation can be reduced by about half. This simple method makes it possible, without adding any products, to reduce the number of varroa mites in the hive without any impact on colony development or honey harvest.
Often, during the first removal, there are very few varroa mites present. Even if only 1 cell out of 50 is infested with a varroa mite, this already corresponds to a total of 50 varroa mites eliminated by cutting out a Bürki frame. It should be noted that 50 varroa mites in April can result in more than 400 by July.
Bees do not close their eyes throughout their lives. Nevertheless, their activities are influenced by an intracerebral protein (pigment-dispersing factor, PDF), which enables them, among other things, to orient themselves in relation to the position of the sun.
Castanea sativa Miller is the scientific name of the chestnut tree. It is a majestic, long-lived tree that can reach up to 40 metres in height and 15 metres in circumference. As it does not tolerate calcium and its salts, in particular carbonates (limestone), it is found on acidic soils; this explains why it is not evenly distributed in Valais.
While the bee amazes us with its highly social behaviour, its anatomy and multifunctional organs are truly awe-inspiring.
The bee is equipped with two antennae attached to the upper part of its head, composed of three main segments: the scape, the pedicel, and the flagellum. The antennae are in constant motion thanks to four muscles located in the head capsule that enable rotation of the scape; the latter contains two groups of muscles responsible for the movements of the flagellum and the pedicel. The motor neurons involved in activating these muscles (nine for the scape, six for the flagellum) have their cell bodies located in the dorsal lobe, which constitutes the motor and mechanosensory system of the antennae. The antennae thus serve as the bee’s central organs for perceiving its environment and, through thousands of sensilla, transmit an enormous amount of information linking it to the external world. The antennae therefore support the senses of smell, taste, touch, hearing, and the perception of electric fields.
by FRANÇOIS SAVATIER
Traces of beeswax found on pottery sherds suggest that beekeeping was already mastered at the beginning of the Neolithic period.
Observation at the hive entrance makes it possible to draw numerous conclusions about the health status of a bee colony. Especially in spring, it is important to assess colonies in this way. Anomalies indicate the aspects that require particular attention during the next colony inspection or when an additional examination becomes necessary. Observation at the hive entrance also helps to avoid interventions within the colony under unfavorable weather conditions.
(by Janine Kievits)
A drone-laying colony normally has no future. It can raise only males, either because its queen has lost the ability to fertilise the eggs she lays, or because there is no queen at all and laying workers have taken over. And yet, from time to time—very rarely, but it does happen—a beekeeper is surprised to discover a fine brood developing in a hive whose frames he was about to shake out. How can this be possible?
The different bee races are determined using biometric traits (coloration, indices, etc.) as well as molecular markers (mitochondrial and nuclear). Defining races allows us to understand the biogeography of the honey bee.
The number of plant species producing nectar and pollen is very large; in Switzerland, several thousand are recorded. However, they do not all have the same beekeeping value, and only a few hundred are actually visited by bees. Among these, barely around thirty have a truly high beekeeping value, about seventy are considered secondary, and the others are of lesser interest because they are less common or occur only sporadically.
By adjusting the volume of the brood chamber to the size of the colony—by reducing and enlarging it—an optimal hive volume is created for the bee colony. This allows the bees to regulate temperature more easily and to care for the brood more effectively.
The winter survival of bee colonies is a topic that divides beekeepers because of contradictions, preconceptions, hypotheses and differing viewpoints. The experienced beekeeper relies on experience and closely monitors weather variations from November to March in order to estimate the timing of the resumption of egg laying by the queen and the volume of brood that must be kept warm. The beginner beekeeper, by contrast, is confronted with the questions raised by worried colleagues: should colonies be fed during winter or not?
The concept based on caging the queen for one brood development cycle aims to allow the brood produced before caging to emerge and to remove and destroy the new brood produced during the caging period. The trap comb method does not involve the direct use of varroacides, as it reduces the number of mites present in the colony to about 20%. Acids are used only for the subsequent summer and winter treatments.
Ceux qui ont déjà utilisé l'excuse que "faire le ménage n'est pas dans mon ADN" pour tenter d'échapper à cette corvée n'avaient peut-être pas tout faux. En effet, chez les abeilles domestiques du moins, certains laisser-aller sur le plan de l'hygiène de la ruche seraient liés à la surexpression de gènes qui nuirait à la détection des odeurs dégagées par les larves malades ou mortes.
La danse des abeilles est un terme utilisé en apiculture et en éthologie pour désigner un système de communication animale par lequel des abeilles butineuses ou exploratrices (en moyenne 5 à 25 % des butineuses qui sont les plus âgées, les plus expérimentées, les autres étant des réceptrices attendant le signal de l'éclaireuse) transmettent aux réceptrices restées dans la colonie la distance et la direction de la source de nourriture où elles peuvent obtenir le nectar et le pollen des fleurs nécessaires à la production de miel.