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Depiction:
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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 idea that an animal or 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 influence the appearance or behavior of living beings (the phenotype) to a considerable extent. However, it has been shown that in some cases, environmental influences can be passed on to subsequent generations without changing the genetic information itself. The entirety of the mechanisms that control this heritable component influenced by environmental factors is referred to as “epigenetics.”
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.
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.