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Depiction:
Although they are few in number, wild or feral colonies of A. mellifera mellifera do indeed exist in nature and are resistant to Varroa due to their small size, their tendency to swarm, the low density of the habitat, and probably through natural selection. Studies also show that these strains of black bees are pure, without hybridization. Consequently, researchers argue for the development of a conservation policy for these bee populations, because they constitute a wild taxon that is probably in decline, but also an interesting genetic reservoir from a beekeeping perspective.
The individual behavior of the honey bee is embedded in the overall management of the colony as a superorganism. Activity deep within the brood nest is now revealed thanks to the work of a research team that has developed a technology for digitally recording striking video footage. The intimacy of the colony is exposed down to the bottom of the comb cells: egg laying, larval hatching, care of open brood, and food storage appear in short videos, making it possible to visualize behaviors that had previously gone unnoticed.
Cape ragwort (Senecio inaequidens) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae (or Compositae) family, native to South Africa, from where it was accidentally introduced through the wool trade. Its branched stem reaches a height of 40 to 60 cm and bears yellow flowers that bloom over a long period, from early summer through autumn, attracting bees mainly for their yellow pollen.
Asters are perennial herbaceous plants belonging to the Asteraceae (or Compositae) family. Their name derives from the Greek aster, meaning star or flower.
They are ornamental plants widely cultivated in gardens, with more than 250 species. Most originate from North America, some were introduced from Asia, while others are native to Europe.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.