Platform for beekeeping practice and know-how

A nightmare for some, an opportunity for others, an incredible hope for visionaries, the wax moth is an insect that intrigues all those interested in its evolution and its perfect adaptation to the hive and its superorganism. There are therefore three ways of viewing the wax moth: the beekeeper fears the damage it causes in hives; the entomologist marvels at the undertaker role played by the insect; researchers, for their part, focus on its highly ecological ability to digest highly polluting plastic. So what is this curious moth?

(By Jean Riondet)

The question of feeding is recurring: in spring to stimulate colonies and to have strong populations at the time of the first nectar flows, then during the season in periods of dearth, and finally to ensure winter stores.

Any decision to feed colonies must be carefully considered, taking the season into account, have a specific purpose, and the ingredients must be well chosen so as to answer the questions properly: when ?, why ?, how ?

A hive inspection should be prepared in advance to avoid omissions and to improve efficiency. Any inspection, even a brief one, disturbs the colony, which perceives it as an intrusion; the resulting stress causes the bees to consume between 0.5 and 1 kg of honey. Inspections should therefore only be carried out when necessary. The following tips make inspections more effective:

Although they are few in number, wild or feral colonies of A. mellifera mellifera do indeed exist in nature and are resistant to Varroa due to their small size, their tendency to swarm, the low density of the habitat, and probably through natural selection. Studies also show that these strains of black bees are pure, without hybridization. Consequently, researchers argue for the development of a conservation policy for these bee populations, because they constitute a wild taxon that is probably in decline, but also an interesting genetic reservoir from a beekeeping perspective.

Too often, the drawer is used solely to detect the presence, more or less abundant, of natural debris from dead varroa mites. Yet the drawer is a mirror of the life of the colony just above it… If the beekeeper takes the time to examine it regularly, the observed elements, waste, fragments, and other residues provide valuable information about colony dynamics and health. Examination of the drawer must always be correlated with the beekeeping calendar: the interpretation of a drawer inspected in summer will be very different from that of the same drawer opened at Christmas.

A bee colony requires tranquillity throughout the beekeeping season, and probably even more so during the winter months. If an overly curious beekeeper opens the hive indiscriminately, the constantly disturbed colony becomes stressed. The behaviour of this superorganism changes: energy consumption increases, the reserves of its valuable fat body are depleted, immune defences against varroa and the viruses it transmits are inhibited, the development of the worker population and brood slows down, and the colony ultimately collapses into a vicious downward spiral (► Infernal cascade: Chronicle of a foretold death).

In Switzerland, beekeeping is considered a leisure activity. Today, around 17,500 beekeepers look after approximately 188,000 colonies, with an average of 11 colonies per person. In Germany, an operation with more than 30 colonies is regarded as a hobby activity, while a professional beekeeper manages more than 300 colonies.

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.

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.

In March, the apiary comes back to life: the queen gradually increases her egg-laying, foragers fly as soon as temperatures allow, and food consumption rises to support brood development. This is a pivotal period in which the beekeeper must observe each colony calmly, as a lack of resources or an undetected disease can compromise recovery after winter.

January generally corresponds to the core of the overwintering period in Switzerland. The colony lives at a reduced pace in a cluster: it maintains a sufficient internal temperature to protect the queen, and if brood is present (which varies depending on altitude and climate), the central area is heated more intensely. Honey consumption remains moderate but continuous. Typical risks of the month include “silent” starvation (insufficient or inaccessible reserves), humidity, and disturbances. The beekeeper therefore acts mainly through external observation, targeted securing of reserves, hygiene, and preparation of equipment, while avoiding any intervention. The watchword is: “Do not disturb!”