Practical Guide: 1.7.1 Emergency treatment in hive bodies
Emergency treatment in hive bodies refers to exceptional measures that may be applied in the event of an acute threat to a honey bee colony. It is not intended for routine colony management, but for short-term intervention in critical situations. The following notes are based on the official Practical Guide 1.7.1 of the Swiss Bee Health Service.
Official Practical Guide – Summary
Practical Guide: 1.7.1 Emergency treatment in hive bodies
- Classification: Emergency treatment is an exceptional measure to stabilize a colony under acute threat.
- Field of application:
- Acute threat to colony development.
- Situations in which regular treatment or management procedures are insufficient.
- Objective: Short-term safeguarding of colony survival and prevention of further damage.
- Principles:
- Apply only when immediate intervention is necessary.
- Implement measures strictly in accordance with the Practical Guide.
- After emergency treatment, return to regular management practices.
- Important note:
- Emergency treatments do not replace planned and systematic management measures.
► PDF of the official Practical Guide (DE)
► Official Practical Guide overview (bienen.ch)
Note: Section Special measures → 1.7.1 “Emergency treatment in hive bodies”.
Summary based on Practical Guide 1.7.1. Last review: 01/2026.