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Depiction:
Replacing old frames is part of the classical recommendations in beekeeping. In practice, however, this measure is often postponed, mainly for economic reasons or due to underestimation of its biological effects. Yet several experimental studies show that comb age directly influences bee morphology, colony demographic dynamics, honey productivity, as well as the accumulation of contaminants in the hive (Berry & Delaplane, 2001 ; Abd Al-Fattah et al., 2021 ; Taha et al., 2021 ; Meng et al., 2025).
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.
The insulation of beehives during winter has long been the subject of debate within the beekeeping community. While some studies emphasize its beneficial effects on reducing energy consumption and improving colony survival (St. Clair et al., 2022; Alburaki & Corona, 2021), others highlight its limitations and potential side effects, particularly when it disrupts the natural thermoregulation mechanisms of the superorganism (Mitchell, 2023; Minaud et al., 2024).
This review article analyses honeybee colony losses from an immunological perspective, focusing on how diverse environmental and ecological stressors affect immune competence. It synthesizes current knowledge on the innate and social immune mechanisms of Apis mellifera and examines how pathogens, parasites, pesticides and nutritional stress interact. Particular attention is given to synergistic effects between stressors and their implications for colony collapse disorder. The review also discusses nutritional, natural-product and technological strategies proposed to support honeybee health, while highlighting the need for integrated and evidence-based management approaches.
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.
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.
Beeswax is a biologically relevant compartment within the colony. It can act as a reservoir for pathogens and chemical contaminants and influence brood development and certain colony performance parameters. Structured management of the wax cycle, including regular renewal of brood combs, therefore appears to be a scientifically based lever for reducing the cumulative accumulation of risks.
This scientific review analyzes 191 field studies published since 1995 in order to identify beekeeping practices and biosecurity measures that have demonstrated a measurable effect on colony health and productivity. In total, 744 “practice records” were extracted and structured according to theme, region, and season of application. The objective is to propose an analytical framework to guide beekeeping decisions based on comparative trials conducted under real-world conditions. The methodically structured review character is central to this synthesis, which highlights both dominant practices and research gaps.
By Claude Pfefferlé and Serge Imboden
Long regarded as a model of uninterrupted activity, the honey bee nevertheless continues to surprise researchers. Recent studies have revealed that it sleeps, and that this sleep plays an essential role in regulating its memory, physiology, and group cohesion. Understanding how and why bees sleep is to open a window onto the health of the hive—and onto the balance of life itself.
Création de nuclei
Why multiply colonies? This may be done to increase stock numbers, renew colonies, benefit from the vigour of young queens, select preferred colonies, and so on. In nature, bees have three methods of reproduction: swarming (the natural reproduction of bees), requeening (replacement of a deficient or ageing queen), and emergency queen rearing (loss of the queen). Beekeepers also have various methods at their disposal to artificially multiply their stock; these procedures are more or less complex and range from simple division to queen rearing by grafting (picking). The objective, for both the bee and the beekeeper, is to produce a queen so that she can establish a new colony.
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 weakening of a bee colony is rarely the result of a single factor: it is most often a gradual process in which several constraints interact and reduce the resilience of the superorganism. This summary presents a conceptual model organized into three main self-amplifying spirals: an infection spiral, a cooling spiral, and a starvation spiral. As long as the population remains sufficient and healthy, the colony can compensate for temporary disturbances, but when resilience declines, regulatory mechanisms become fragile and the dynamics of weakening accelerate. The practical benefit is to help beekeepers recognize weak signals earlier and intervene before several spirals set in simultaneously.
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.
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.
This article provides a structured synthesis of current scientific knowledge on the factors influencing honey quality. It is based exclusively on a recent literature review, examining honey composition, quality criteria, the impact of beekeeping and environmental practices, as well as the links between colony management, honey processing, and biological properties.
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
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.
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.
Bees and brood tolerate elevated temperatures better than the Varroa mite. Hyperthermia exploits this fact and reduces the number of mites through thermal treatment. However, damage to the brood cannot be completely avoided. Based on current research findings, negative effects of hyperthermia on bees emerging after treatment also cannot be ruled out.
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.
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.