Platform for beekeeping practice and know-how

One might assume that asexual reproduction leads to an evolutionary dead end, with the accumulation of deleterious mutations ultimately resulting in species extinction. Recent studies show that this is not the case, and the drone provides a well-studied example. The particular case of reproduction in Varroa destructor is illuminating: these mites exhibit fewer deleterious mutations than other sexually reproducing insects …

Examples of asexual reproduction in certain animals include: the hammerhead shark, the leopard shark, the sawfish, the sea anemone, the Komodo dragon, the gecko, the aphid, the scale insect …

For millions of years, honey bees have ensured the persistence of the species through swarming. Swarming is a process in which a colony divides into two populations. The resident queen leaves the hive, accompanied by a large proportion of workers of all ages, to form a swarm that quickly clusters into a tight ball. The swarm leaves behind in the original hive the nest with emerging brood, about one third of the workers, and queen cells ready to hatch. A young queen will replace the old one, and the re-formed colony will begin its development…

The different bee races are determined using biometric traits (coloration, indices, etc.) as well as molecular markers (mitochondrial and nuclear). Defining races allows us to understand the biogeography of the honey bee.

by AURORE AVARGUÈS-WEBER

Despite having a tiny brain with 100,000 times fewer neurons than ours, bees possess remarkable cognitive abilities. These hymenopterans can count, master concepts, reason by categories… and are even faster than great apes in certain tasks!

The pavilion apiary dates back to the 19^th century; its design was intended for storing baskets and hives with rear access. The apiary was meant to protect bees from wind, rain, and theft. The “Swiss” rear-access hive remains the most common management system in German-speaking Switzerland. Outside Switzerland, beekeeping is practiced mainly using multi-super hives.

The deformed wing disease virus (DWV) is one of the most widespread viruses in Apis mellifera and one of the least virulent. In the absence of facilitating factors, it causes only a covert infection, that is, an infection without clinical signs.

Chemical control of harmful organisms has been known for millennia. The application of sulfur, lead, or arsenic was already practiced in ancient Greece. Closer to our time, the insecticidal properties of tobacco (nicotine) were known as early as the 17th century. In the 19th century, chemistry made major advances, and new copper sulfate–based compounds made it possible to control fungal diseases of grapevines. In the 20th century, mercury salts began to be used for seed treatment. Because of their toxicity, these substances were quickly banned.

Biotechnical control methods are increasingly being promoted in the fight against varroosis. Among these, techniques that induce significant interruptions in brood development are often discussed. However, such methods are still rarely used by beekeepers, except on an experimental basis. This article analyses the relevance of brood interruption and the different techniques derived from it.

The parasite capable of chemically mimicking two bee species

Researchers from the Institute for Research on Insect Biology (CNRS/Université François Rabelais de Tours) and the “Bees and Environment” laboratory of Inra, in collaboration with American and Chinese colleagues⁽¹⁾, have shown that Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite of bees that is able to imitate the chemical composition of the cuticle⁽²⁾ of its host, can also modify this composition depending on the species it parasitises. This remarkable adaptive capacity could explain how this parasite of the Asian honey bee was able to colonise the European honey bee during the 20th century, thereby contributing to the decline of the species. These findings were published on 3 June 2015 in the journal Biology Letters.

Reviewed for you by Claude Pfefferlé

But where does the queen fly? The unprecedented case of a foraging queen! Another dogma is being challenged…

In the countryside of northern Sardinia, an Italian honey bee queen (Apis mellifera ligustica) was observed for the first time in spring 2021 while foraging on a borage flower (Borago officinalis), most likely during an orientation flight prior to mating.

Numerous articles available on the internet provide valuable advice on how to manage our bee colonies. It can sometimes be useful to return to more basic notions, grounded in common sense. The “ten mistakes to avoid” are intended as a way to spark the curiosity of beginner beekeepers or to encourage reflection among more experienced colleagues.

Fortunately, there are not only ten mistakes to avoid… otherwise beekeeping would be tedious or even wearisome!