Practical Guise: 3.3. Avoiding bee losses caused by mowing
Bee losses during mowing can be significant, particularly on flowering areas that are heavily frequented by foraging bees. Official memo 3.3 from the Swiss Bee Health Service describes the causes of these losses and measures to reduce them through appropriate mowing practices.
Official practical guide – Summary
Aide-mémoire: 3.3 Bee losses during mowing
- Topic: Bee losses caused by mowing operations on flowering areas.
- Causes:
- Mowing of plants in full bloom.
- Use of mowers, conditioners, or shredders.
- Interventions during periods of intense foraging activity.
- Consequences:
- Injury or direct mortality of bees.
- Significant reduction in the number of foragers.
- Recommended measures:
- Adjust the timing of mowing.
- Prefer more bee-friendly cutting techniques.
- Coordinate practices between farmers and beekeepers.
- Important point:
- Losses can be significantly reduced through simple and well-planned measures.
► Open the official aide-mémoire PDF (FR)
► To the official aide-mémoire page (abeilles.ch)
Note: Section Dangers and damage → 3.3 “Bee losses during mowing”.
Summary established on the basis of aide-mémoire 3.3. Last verification: 01/2026.
See also:
- Aide-mémoire: 3.1.1 Bee poisoning protocol sheet
- Aide-mémoire: 3.1.2 Bee poisoning
- Aide-mémoire: 3.2 Periods of food shortage
- Aide-mémoire: 3.4 Wildlife at the apiary