Platform for Professional Beekeeping Knowledge and Practice

Swarming is the bee colony’s natural mode of reproduction. In a prime swarm, the mated old queen leaves the nest with a large part of the adult workers, while the mother colony retains the combs, the brood, the food stores and one or more young queens in development. The division is strongly asymmetric: a direct measurement of naturally swarming colonies showed that roughly three quarters of the adult workers could leave on average with the prime swarm, with considerable variation between colonies (Rangel & Seeley, 2012).

For the beekeeper, however, the essential question is not only whether a colony is likely to swarm, but where it stands within the process. An intervention that is useful several weeks before departure may become insufficient once queen rearing is well under way.

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.

► You can download the calculation tool here

Water is indispensable to a honey bee colony, but its needs vary considerably with temperature, brood rearing, food resources and season. From the water balance of individual bees to colony thermoregulation, the dilution of larval food and the concentration of nectar, this article explains the many flows of water within the hive. It derives practical guidance for water provision, periods of heat and overwintering.

Diarrhoea in bees is most often caused by Nosema or dysentery. Nosema is a fungal disease that can be caused by two different pathogens: Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae. Transmission occurs in the form of spores via food, water, and contaminated surfaces. The fungus germinates in the midgut and subsequently multiplies in the intestinal cells. New spores are transmitted through the excreta. In this factsheet, only diarrhoea resulting from Nosema apis is addressed and discussed. The disease is strongly season-dependent and occurs mainly in spring. The pathogen can be detected within the colony throughout the year even in the absence of clinical symptoms.

The mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium), also called the New Zealand tea tree in English because its leaves can be used to make tea, is an evergreen perennial shrub belonging to the family Myrtaceae (the same family as eucalyptus and myrtle). It has irregularly branched shoots, and its leaves are small, variably shaped, and aromatic. During flowering, mānuka produces five-petaled flowers that may be white, pink, or red, followed by fruits in the form of round, woody capsules that persist on the plant for many months.

Why does a colony replace a newly introduced queen within weeks, yet keep another despite a patchy brood pattern? This article explains how signals from the queen, brood and colony interact, and what this means for assessing, introducing and caging queens.

The queen has a lifespan of 4–5 years. This may seem long. However, it takes 1–2 years to identify a valuable queen and select her for (re)production. To preserve this queen for as long as possible, her egg laying must be managed carefully, as it depends on the number of spermatozoa present in her spermatheca. Various techniques make it possible to modulate egg laying: colony size, the surface of empty cells, the population of young bees, protein resources …

Practical Guide 4.7.5 presents spring swarming as a natural behaviour essential to the survival of the bee population. It also notes that swarms that depart have little chance of surviving long-term in the wild in Switzerland, that they can transmit diseases, and that they can cause conflicts or dangerous situations in urban areas. For beekeeping, the departure of a swarm generally means a loss of honey yield and requires particular attention to the colony that has swarmed.

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 European honey bee, also known as the honey fly (Apis mellifera), is a domesticated honey bee species native to Europe. It is considered semi-domesticated. It is one of the bee species bred on a large scale for honey production.

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To successfully raise queens, it’s not enough to produce high-quality queen cells: the quality of the drones is just as important. This article summarizes what we know about their development, sexual maturity, the impact of Varroa mites, and the limitations of controlling fertilization in open-hive systems.

Hygiene in colony management is essential for preventing disease and maintaining healthy colonies. It concerns both the beekeeper's behavior and the correct use of equipment. The following information is based on the official checklist 4.1 of the Swiss Bee Health Service.

A queen or artificial swarm is a method for establishing a new colony with a defined queen. It is deliberately created to build strong, vigorous colonies, form nucleus colonies, or carry out rehabilitation measures. The summary below is based on the official Practical Guide 1.4.3 of the Swiss Bee Health Service.

The queen’s primary function is to lay eggs, enabling the emergence of all individuals that make up the population of a bee colony. The queen’s many other functions are not addressed in this brief article.

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:

In beekeeping supply stores, frames are available pre-assembled with or without wax, as well as frames to be assembled. For a pre-assembled frame with wax, a minimum cost of CHF 10 should be expected.

A brood break followed by oxalic acid treatment can be an alternative to the first summer formic acid treatment against varroa. This article explains when this approach may be useful, which biological conditions must be met, and which checks are essential for safe and effective use.

Varroa destructor, a killing machine!

The many scientific articles available to beekeepers provide valuable insight into the physiology of honey bees, drones and, of course, Varroa destructor. What is crucial, however, is to understand the dynamic relationships between these different actors within the colony over time—that is, the combined pathophysiology of these three populations throughout the season.

Beekeeping in Switzerland is not regulated by a single law, but is subject to several areas of law, in particular animal disease law and—in the case of honey sales—food law, as well as other regulations such as animal welfare or building and environmental law. This article presents the core obligations under federal law in a practical and legally precise manner and clarifies questions regarding registration, documentation, disease outbreaks, and sales. A concluding checklist enables systematic self-assessment of legal compliance.

To unravel the mysteries of crystallization, the authors explore the world of science and delve into the heart of the product: principles of chemistry and physics, together with a measure of common sense, are essential to understand it and to highlight the different factors that can influence it.

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Queen ringing is presented as an emerging method to temporarily interrupt egg laying without confining the queen. This summary examines what the first studies actually show, what remains uncertain, and what Swiss beekeepers can — or cannot yet — cautiously take from it for Varroa control.

The colour of pollen varies depending on the plant species: it ranges from white to black, but most often pollen is yellow or orange, as well as light brown or greenish. Based on colour, certain typical pollens can be recognised (for example, poppy pollen is black and phacelia pollen is blue), but only microscopic analysis allows precise identification of the pollen type.

Metamorphosis is a major transformation of the body and way of life during the development and life cycle of certain animals, such as amphibians and some insects. It represents an evolutionary adaptation of an organism to its respective environmental conditions. In zoology, it refers to the transformation from the larval form to the adult, sexually mature animal.

Impact of varroa infestation on thermoregulation in honey bee colonies: new findings indicate that varroa mites reduce bees’ ability to effectively regulate their body temperature, making them more vulnerable to cold temperatures.

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.
 

A brood interruption is a deliberate suspension of brood production in honey bee colonies, used as a measure in Varroa management (e.g. for Varroa reduction or preparation for treatments). The following summary is based on the official Practical Guide 1.6.1 of the Swiss Bee Health Service.

Orphan colonies are a special case in beekeeping, as the absence of a queen prevents reproduction and compromises the colony's survival. Official memo 4.7.4 from the Swiss Bee Health Service describes the possible causes of orphanhood and the appropriate measures for managing these colonies.

The adaptive strategies of imitation make mimicry a model of a complex coevolutionary mechanism involving a first species acting as a model (e.g. Apis cerana) and a second, imitating species (e.g. Varroa destructor), very often parasitic. Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite of bees, has the ability to mimic the chemical composition of its host’s cuticle; moreover, it is also capable of modifying this composition according to the species it parasitizes.

Periods of scarcity are times when bees cannot find sufficient sources of nectar and pollen, which can lead to food shortages for the colony. The summary below is based on official guidance document 3.2 from the Swiss Beekeeping Service (BGD/SSA) and outlines the causes, effects, and practical management measures.

The search for a suitable apiary location is subject to several conditions, including access to nectar and pollen resources. It is therefore important to be able to identify the different local plant species in order to assess the availability of these resources, or even to increase them if possible.

A honey bee colony cannot exist without a queen. She is the only fertile female individual in the colony. Normally, there is only one mated adult queen per hive. She is usually the mother of most, if not all, of the bees in the hive. Through the pheromones she secretes, the queen is able to influence the bees of her colony. In addition, characteristics such as vitality, gentleness, swarming behaviour, disease resistance, and performance are largely determined by the queen.

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!

Pollen is essential for brood rearing and for the turnover of the worker population. Its role cannot, however, be reduced either to a protein percentage or to the number of pellets observed at the hive entrance. To assess a colony's supply, the available quantity, the composition of the pollens, their complementarity and the continuity of income must be considered together.

The winter months can be used to clean all beekeeping equipment. This may not only help to prevent certain diseases, but it is also a pleasure to find tools in good condition in spring, and above all tools that are not sticky.

Hawthorn is a very good melliferous plant, whose fragrant flowers are visited by a wide range of insects collecting nectar and pollen. Its fruits also attract many birds.

Colony multiplication based on swarming impulse makes targeted use of the natural reproductive drive of honey bee colonies for the formation of nucleus colonies. When correctly applied, this method allows simple multiplication and the use of existing queen cells, but it requires careful observation and timely intervention. The following information is based on the official Practical Guide 1.4.7 of the Swiss Bee Health Service (BGD).

Infestation-oriented Varroa treatment (July to September) deviates, according to official Practical Guide 1.6.6, from the Varroa concept 1.1 and is intended for beekeepers who wish to treat only when necessary. It requires monthly, careful assessment of natural mite fall and individual evaluation of each colony. The following summary is based exclusively on the official Practical Guide (BGD/SSA).

These images are royalty-free and available for free download.

Please credit the author: S. Imboden – www.ApiSavoir.ch

Every beekeeper is required to indicate the following information on each jar of honey sold (ODAIOUs Art. 26, food labelling ordinance, OEDAI):

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.

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.

This article provides an accessible overview of the main issues surrounding wild bees in Switzerland. For a more in-depth discussion, with greater scientific detail, references, and further analysis of ecology, threats, and conservation measures, please refer to the main feature article. This condensed version summarizes the key points in a shorter, more practical format.

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The bee’s gut microbiota plays an important role in digestion, pollen utilization, and certain defenses against pathogens. This overview also shows that feeding is not merely a matter of providing sugars or proteins, and that natural pollen remains the biological standard. For beekeepers, the key message is therefore a word of caution: it is better to strengthen the foundation of the apiary and the quality of resources than to rely on additives that have not yet been sufficiently validated.

Diseases and pests pose a major threat to the health of colonies and require early detection and appropriate management. This overview presents the main diseases and pests affecting honey bees. The following information is based on official fact sheet 2 from the Swiss Bee Health Service.

When a colony appears to be lacking in vitality, it can be tempting to turn to a protein paste or a homemade recipe. However, natural pollen is more than just a source of protein, and scientific studies do not support the routine use of these supplements. In Switzerland, Agroscope summarizes this caution as follows: protein-based supplemental feed for bees rarely offers benefits, but often has drawbacks.

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.

Most bee races do not leave the hive if the outside temperature is below 10 to 12 °C.

Hives should not be opened if the temperature is below 15 °C. If an inspection lasts too long, there is a risk of chilling the brood, which can lead to its death or to diseases. Calm movements are essential, and one should never lose control of the situation!

Reducing the space available to a colony is often presented as a way to keep bees “warm”. In reality, the issue is more nuanced: bees do not heat the whole hive, but organise a functional nest around brood, the winter cluster and food stores. This article explains when reducing space can support the colony — and when it risks replacing observation with an overly rigid rule.

Winter bees, often referred to as diutinus bees in the scientific literature, are long-lived workers adapted to ensuring the colony’s survival during winter. They do not constitute a distinct caste, but rather a seasonal form of the worker bee, which develops as the colony gradually shifts from a growth phase to a conservation phase. Understanding this transition provides a better understanding of what happens in the apiary between the end of summer, winter, and the spring revival.

Under the screened bottoms of our hive floors, it is advisable to place a drawer. Various debris, poorly stored in the cells, end up on this board and can sometimes provide information without having to open the hive.

Do you recognize the diseases?

Take the test: try to assess the diseases!

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Guide to bee health

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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).

Proper storage of frames is an essential part of beekeeping hygiene and helps prevent damage caused by pests, mold, or contamination. The checklist describes appropriate storage methods and precautions to be taken. The following information is based on the official checklist 4.4.2 of the Swiss Bee Health Service.

Beekeepers use many methods to unite bee colonies, and some very violent ones demonstrate a clear lack of respect for the bees. The only advantage of such methods is their speed, but they pay little attention to what happens to the queens, the foragers, and the bees in general. The gentlest and most commonly used method is very probably the “superposition” method. This procedure is relatively simple, accessible to both beginner and experienced beekeepers, and if the few rules discussed in this article are respected, the uniting of colonies should proceed without any problems.

Varroa treatment in mating nuclei places specific demands, as these units usually consist of small bee populations with a particular function. An adapted approach is required to ensure treatment effectiveness while avoiding risks to queens and brood. The following notes are based on the official Practical Guide 1.6.5 of the Swiss Bee Health Service.

Good apicultural practice: The advantage of spring nucleus colonies over summer nuclei is that they allow a first assessment of queen quality prior to overwintering, owing to an additional month of egg-laying activity.

The question comes up every year: should colonies be fed at the end of winter or not? The answer needs to be nuanced. Food reserves have a direct impact on the queen’s egg-laying activity. It is well known that generous reserves and regular nectar inputs clearly stimulate egg laying, and when pollen is abundant, nurse bees operate at full capacity.

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.

Among Asian knotweeds, the Japanese knotweed, whose scientific names are Fallopia japonica, Polygonum japonicum or Reynoutria japonica, is the most widespread. It belongs to the Polygonaceae family and originates from the Far East (eastern China, Japan, Korea). Introduced to Europe in the 19th century for its ornamental and forage properties, it proved to be invasive, spreading rapidly across large areas, particularly in moist environments.

Honey is far more than a concentrated sugar solution: it is the result of a complex biological process shaped by botanical origin, processing by the bees, and the conditions of ripening and storage. This reference article explores its composition, physical and microbiological properties, quality, authenticity, health risks, and uses, while distinguishing well-established evidence from remaining uncertainties and common overstatements.

Berberis vulgaris is the scientific name of the barberry, a shrub that owes its name to a lightly fermented beverage made from its red berries, which resembles wine. However, its interest for beekeepers lies mainly in its flowers, which produce very abundant nectar during the months of May and June.

May disease is not an infectious disease, but a metabolic disorder that mainly occurs in spring when the brood is developing rapidly. It is linked to a lack of water in the colony. The following information is based on official memo 2.9 from the Swiss Bee Health Service.

The implementation of a sentinel bee project, through its epidemiological dimension, constitutes the only approach capable of shedding light on the causes of the significant losses that have been affecting bee populations for nearly twenty years. Moreover, such a project makes it possible to assess the state of the environment in which colonies live—an environment that is also our own—in which the bee, owing to its sensitivity to toxic contaminants, plays an early warning role.

A pheromone is a chemical substance secreted by an organism which, when perceived or received by another organism of the same species, triggers a specific reaction or an evolutionary biological process (ApiWiki).

A study involving Inra, Acta and the ITSAP-Institut de l’abeille examines the physiological mechanisms involved in the winter survival of honey bees. The researchers showed that a protein with antioxidant properties, vitellogenin, is associated with a 30% increase in the probability of colony survival during winter.

Those who have already used the excuse that “housekeeping is not in my DNA” to try to avoid this chore may not have been entirely wrong. Indeed, at least in honey bees, certain shortcomings in hive hygiene appear to be linked to the overexpression of genes that impairs the detection of odors released by diseased or dead larvae.

The Asian hornet has continued its expansion since its arrival in France 20 years ago.

In 2024, it has reached the borders of Valais, and the Saint-Maurice gorge will most likely not constitute an insurmountable barrier for this highly well-adapted invader.

The division of a colony is carried out for various reasons :

• increase of the colony stock,
• replacement of a dead colony that has become drone-laying,
• risk of swarming in a very strong colony,
• creation of nuclei for trade,
• or reserve colonies to compensate for expected losses in the following year …

There are many different and very simple methods for dividing hives.

The method described below works well :

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.

Swarming is a natural reproductive behaviour of the honey bee colony, but in beekeeping it often leads to losses, extra work and uncertainty. This article explains why swarming tendency should not be interpreted too quickly as a genetic problem of the queen, but as the result of interactions between genetics, queen age, nectar flow, available space and colony management.

Deciduous tree or occasionally evergreen, monoecious and wind-pollinated, with inconspicuous, greenish and unisexual flowers. The male flowers are pendulous and grouped in catkins, whereas the female flowers are rounded and hardly visible, developing into acorns (nut fruits).

The tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), also known as the Japanese varnish tree, is a tree belonging to the family Simaroubaceae that can reach a height of 25 to 30 metres. It originates from East Asia and was deliberately introduced into Europe in the 18th century for ornamental purposes, but above all in connection with silk production, as the plant served as a food source for a moth, the ailanthus silkmoth (Samia cynthia), which was intended to replace the mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori).

The creation, as early as spring, of several nucleus colonies from a small six-frame colony is highly profitable and straightforward, provided that the beekeeper monitors the development of the parent colony, transfers the brood frames onto two stacked boxes, and that frequent syrup feeding stimulates a particularly prolific queen.

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Blessed is the one who manages to escape the bee that is chasing him. The flight of the honey bee is a mechanical and sensory feat: flexible wings, an elastic thorax, specialised muscles and rapid vision work together. This article summarises what is known about this flight mechanics and shows what beekeepers can take from it to better interpret activity at the hive entrance, bee orientation and certain warning signs in the apiary.

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.

Emergency treatment in hive bodies refers to exceptional measures that may be applied in the event of an acute threat to a honey bee colony. It is not intended for routine colony management, but for short-term intervention in critical situations. The following notes are based on the official Practical Guide 1.7.1 of the Swiss Bee Health Service.

The naturally resistant bee populations observed on Gotland, and later in other regions of Europe and elsewhere, have had a profound impact on thinking about the Varroa mite. They demonstrate that sustainable survival without treatment can emerge through natural selection, without being reduced to a single mechanism or a universally applicable solution. The insights they offer—as well as the limitations they impose on interpretation—must therefore be approached with the same rigor.

Unmarked queens are sometimes very difficult to locate. We recommend having marking equipment available during every colony inspection so that unmarked queens can always be marked. This requires a good eye, and not all beekeepers necessarily have the ability to spot queens. When a nucleus colony has to be formed or a queen introduced, the beekeeper is then often faced with difficulties.

Some flowers produce a blue halo on their petals to attract pollinators

Acquired and controlled through evolution, a degree of “disorder” in the nanometric structure of the petals of many flowers allows for more efficient pollination.
Researchers have discovered that some flowers have developed an additional strategy to encourage insects to forage on them. An ultraviolet halo effectively attracts pollinators.

Image: Ursinia speciosa, like other flower species, produces a blue halo on its petals to attract pollinators. © Edwige Moyroud

Robbing is a complex behaviour that involves more than the visible loss of a colony’s food stores. It should not be underestimated, as its consequences can be serious for the affected colony and for the health of the apiary as a whole. This article explains how robbing develops, how foreign bees are recognised, and which measures can help prevent or stop it.

The first difficulty for a beginner beekeeper is choosing a hive. There are many systems, and all of them have their advantages and disadvantages, their supporters and their critics. It is important to choose hives carefully so that the colony develops well, production is satisfactory, overwintering proceeds properly, and beekeeping remains a pleasure. Dadant, Langstroth, Voirnot, Alsacienne, WBC, Warré, Layens, Simplex, Zander, National … and all the others: which is the best hive? How can one make a decision when starting out in beekeeping and the opinions of the “experienced beekeepers” diverge?

Young bees aged 12–19 days (wax-producing bees)* produce small wax scales using their wax glands, which are located in the last four abdominal segments. The process of wax production is complex.

Last year, the publication of specialised articles on the contamination and adulteration of beeswax shook the beekeeping community. Among beekeepers, awareness has grown regarding the importance of the condition of wax: indeed, both the quality of our products and, of course, the health of our colonies depend on it (1).

Canadian fleabane (Conyza canadensis or Erigeron canadensis) and annual fleabane (Erigeron annuus or Stenactis annua) are annual herbaceous plants belonging to the Asteraceae family and originating from North America. They exhibit all the characteristics of invasive nectar-producing plants: exotic origin; rapid growth; production of a large number of wind-dispersed seeds that can be transported over several kilometres; ability to germinate in the smallest crevices; and strong attractiveness to pollinating insects, including honey bees.

Which medications and treatments are approved in Switzerland for varroa mites, and what key points should be kept in mind before treatment? This summary outlines the main approved treatments and highlights a crucial point for beekeepers: when using medication, the supers intended for honey harvest must be removed, and the product’s official instructions must always be followed.

For a long time, scientists believed that an organism’s genetic code alone determined its biological characteristics, its development, and its adaptation to its environment. Under the influence of various chemical or “external” factors, epigenetics can not only modify an organism’s appearance or behaviour, but can also transmit some of these modifications to subsequent generations…

Bee packages – all similar, yet very different in their composition and use.

The preparation of bee packages is not a common practice in beekeeping, as it requires specific expertise that is rarely taught in beekeeping schools. Many online videos fail to provide all the information surrounding this technique, which often leads to unsuccessful outcomes when beekeepers attempt to put it into practice.

Insects are not insensitive automatons: bees, wasps, flies, or ants display remarkable cognitive and emotional capacities under laboratory conditions.

Recent experiments suggest that bumblebees may experience optimism, joy, and possibly even pain. These findings raise important ethical questions concerning the treatment of insects in laboratory settings, their breeding, and the use of pesticides.

Queen multiplication using the Laurenz method is a breeding technique that does not require grafting. This guide outlines the conditions, procedure, and limitations of this method. The following information is based on the official guide 4.6.2 published by the Swiss Bee Health Service.

When one speaks of alfalfa, one first thinks of cultivated alfalfa, Medicago sativa, a perennial herbaceous plant native to the Middle East with blue-violet flowers; however, there are other species with flowers in different shades, ranging from yellow to white, via green and brown. All are highly melliferous.

From the honey super still on the hive to the sealed jar, every step of the harvest determines the quality of the final product. This article follows the complete process : assessing ripeness, extracting under the right conditions, managing crystallisation and filling correctly. Mistakes made early in the process cannot be corrected later — which is why every decision is explained together with its practical consequences. An article for beekeepers who want to understand why, not just how.

Ask your question about beekeeping. The more detailed your description, the more helpful and relevant the answer will be to your specific situation at the apiary.

The cells in the comb are not only used for storing honey or raising brood. A study shows that bees also use them as a place to rest or even sleep. By observing the movements of the abdomen, it is possible to distinguish between a sleeping bee and a bee busy warming the brood, which opens up new perspectives on the organization of life in the colony.

The introduction of queens always entails a significant risk for the introduced queen. Some publications report failure rates of up to 50 %. For successful acceptance, all conditions must be optimal. The highest success rates are achieved when a young colony with a young queen is combined with an older colony. In general, favourable conditions must be deliberately created in order for a colony to accept an introduced queen.

Queen multiplication using the Mini-Plus system is a recognized method for breeding, fertilizing, and preserving young queens. It allows for precise monitoring of queens in small colonies. The information below is based on the official checklist 4.6.1 from the Swiss Bee Health Service.

The winter survival of bee colonies is a topic that divides beekeepers because of contradictions, preconceptions, hypotheses and differing viewpoints. The experienced beekeeper relies on experience and closely monitors weather variations from November to March in order to estimate the timing of the resumption of egg laying by the queen and the volume of brood that must be kept warm. The beginner beekeeper, by contrast, is confronted with the questions raised by worried colleagues: should colonies be fed during winter or not?

The evaluation or selection of colonies does not concern breeders alone; it is also important for every beekeeper from the perspective of bee health. As a preventive measure, the ultimate aim is to retain only healthy and strong colonies within an apiary. This selection applies both to productive colonies and to young colonies.

The FAM dispenser is an approved device for the treatment of honey bee colonies with formic acid and is primarily used for varroa control. Correct application is essential, as formic acid is highly corrosive and improper handling poses risks to both humans and bees. The following information is based on the official Practical Guide 1.2.3 of the Swiss Bee Health Service.

What beekeepers should know about exposure, immune reactions, and protection

Among beekeepers, bee stings constitute a frequent occupational exposure, often trivialized and traditionally associated with the idea of tolerance acquired through repeated exposure. This widely held representation is based on genuine empirical observations, but it only partially reflects the documented clinical and immunological reality.

The rowan is a deciduous tree that is very widespread in Valais, where it grows naturally in woodlands but is also widely planted in parks and gardens, notably to form living hedges that are highly valued for their foliage and decorative fruits. Several species of rowan exist; the most common are the rowanberry or mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia), the service tree, also known as sorb apple tree (Sorbus domestica), and the whitebeam (Sorbus aria).

Castanea sativa Miller is the scientific name of the chestnut tree. It is a majestic, long-lived tree that can reach up to 40 metres in height and 15 metres in circumference. As it does not tolerate calcium and its salts, in particular carbonates (limestone), it is found on acidic soils; this explains why it is not evenly distributed in Valais.

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.

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.

The eggs laid by the queen pass through several developmental stages. The first, which lasts barely three days, is the most critical, as it corresponds to the development of the nervous and digestive systems of the larva inside the egg. After hatching, the larval stage begins with the emergence of a larva without antennae, eyes, legs, or wings, which is fed exclusively on a diet of royal jelly for three days.

(Photo: kleinewelt)

Dynamic colony management is a pragmatic approach to colony maintenance, adapted to their health status, available resources, and rate of development. It combines brood extraction, nucleus creation, swarm prevention, queen selection, and resource optimization according to seasonal needs. This summary is based on the official checklist 4.12 of the Swiss Beekeeping Service (BGD/SSA).

Although substantial research has been conducted on the causes of colony collapse disorder in the European honey bee Apis mellifera, there has been increasing evidence over the past two decades that another pandemic affecting both domesticated and native bees is emerging. This pandemic is the result of the spread of fungal pathogens of the genus Nosema.

Dribble treatment with oxalic acid is an established method in Switzerland for winter varroa control. Broodless colonies (or colonies with only open brood), correct preparation of the solution, and strict protective measures are essential, as oxalic acid is strongly irritating and harmful to health. The summary below is based exclusively on the official practical guide (BGD/SSA) and refers to the complete instructions/package leaflet.

Members of an “Apis mellifera” colony share the same olfactory signature, emitted by their cuticular hydrocarbons and linked to a specific intestinal bacterial flora.

The glandular system, the circulatory, respiratory and nervous systems, as well as the digestive, excretory and reproductive systems, will be presented in turn in the following fact sheets. When addressing the internal anatomy of the honey bee, an anatomical plate is more informative than lengthy explanations.

Bee resistance to Varroa mites cannot be reduced to a single trait or an acronym like VSH or MNR. This article provides a clear and nuanced overview of the mechanisms currently under discussion, demonstrating why what truly matters in the apiary is a colony’s ability to sustainably curb the parasite’s growth and better weather the season.

Apple and pear trees are among the main pome fruit trees in Switzerland. They are of great economic importance, and numerous varieties are cultivated. They are deciduous trees or shrubs. The flowers are hermaphroditic and are white to slightly pink with yellow anthers in the cultivated apple (M. domestica, originally M. sylvestris), whereas they are white (rarely pink) with dark red anthers in the cultivated pear (P. communis, originally P. pyraster).

This section compiles frequently asked questions about beekeeping, along with brief, practical answers that are directly applicable to the apiary. For each question, the goal is to get straight to the point: what to do, what to avoid, and what to check if things don’t go as planned. The aim is to provide simple, reliable, and easy-to-follow guidelines to help you make the right decisions at the right time.

(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 ?

Neonicotinoids are extremely ecotoxic pesticides. By infiltrating all environmental compartments, they indiscriminately kill both vertebrates and invertebrates. Despite their ban in 2018, traces of these substances persist in the environment at lethal concentrations.

The expression may come as a surprise and calls for some clarification. “Insemination with a single male” refers to the insemination of a queen using the semen of a single drone, instead of the 12 to 20 males involved in natural mating or conventional instrumental insemination. This article presents this specific technique and its contexts of use. An overview of our current knowledge regarding the benefits and the present limitations of this technique!

The Asian hornet is poorly named, since the vast majority of hornets (including our European hornet) originate from Asia. Scientists are more precise and refer to it as Vespa velutina nigrithorax. This Latin designation could be translated as “large wasp, covered with numerous short, silky hairs, with a black thorax”. It belongs to the hymenopteran insects (bearing 4 membranous wings that couple in flight via a series of small hamuli) Apocrita (with a narrow wasp waist). Its portrait is clearly less poetic...

Monoecious deciduous tree or shrub. The flowers are unisexual, yellow-green, and arranged in racemes or panicles. The samara (fruit) consists of two seeds joined in a helical shape and is dispersed by wind. Species of importance for bees include: sycamore maple (A. pseudoplatanus), Norway maple (A. platanoides), and field maple (A. campestre).

Over the past year, articles dealing with the falsification of wax have frequently been published in the specialist press. The damage includes the collapse of combs, patchy brood patterns on newly built combs, and bees becoming trapped during emergence. The cause of these problems is the addition of stearin, paraffin, or other organic substances. Pesticide residues can also cause damage. As is known from experience with mothballs, there is likewise a risk that undesirable chemical additives in the wax may later appear in the honey.

In Switzerland, as elsewhere, bees are disappearing, sometimes in a dramatic way. Without bees, it is not only honey that risks becoming scarce, but also fruits and vegetables. In an attempt to unravel the mystery of the disappearance of bees, Fred and Jamy travelled to the Vaucluse. Fred met with beekeepers and farmers, while Jamy set up his mini laboratory at the INRA in Avignon, right in the midst of hives used for research.

In Switzerland, ants are commonly found in or on beehives, but they are not generally considered a major pest of healthy colonies. This does not mean they are insignificant: they can exploit available resources, disrupt already weakened colonies, skew interpretations of natural varroa mite mortality, and play a role in the ecology of pathogens around the apiary.

Since antiquity, honey has been consumed for its sweetening properties and used for its therapeutic effects. Today, it has largely been supplanted in the diet by beet sugar. In medicine, however, its bactericidal and wound-healing effects on chronic wounds are being rediscovered. Beeswax is favoured by cosmetic manufacturers, while royal jelly and propolis are recognised in dietetics. The history of the use of honey and products of the beehive is fascinating.

Below, you can observe in real time the variations in hive weight and the changes in colony temperature in different apiaries located in the plain and on the slope of the right bank of the Rhône.

► Other observation stations

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The honey bee dance is not merely an instinctive reflex: its precision is also shaped by observing experienced foragers. Two recent studies shed light on the link between learning, vision and orientation — and help explain why visual landmarks, including around water sources, matter more in the apiary than one might think.

When a colony is affected by an incurable disease or is severely weakened, it must be eliminated. This is an important measure within the framework of the control and prevention of epizootics and diseases. In the event of suspected notifiable disease, the apiary inspector must be informed before eliminating the colony.

In December, the apiary enters a quieter phase in which the undisturbed overwintering of the colonies takes priority. The beekeeper mainly observes from outside, checks the hives after severe weather, and carefully chooses the right window for the winter treatment against varroa without assuming broodlessness from the calendar alone. This quieter period is also useful for monitoring food stores, maintaining equipment, and preparing the next season.

Le traitement estival contre le varroa constitue un élément essentiel du concept de lutte contre le varroa. Il vise à réduire efficacement l’infestation après la récolte du miel afin de protéger l’élevage des abeilles d’hiver. L’aide-mémoire donne une vue d’ensemble des méthodes autorisées et de leurs conditions d’application. Les informations suivantes sont basées sur l’aide-mémoire officiel 1.2 du Service sanitaire apicole suisse.

July is a pivotal month at the apiary. Between harvesting, the first summer treatment, establishing new colonies, and gradually preparing for winter, beekeepers must already be thinking well beyond this season’s honey. This month therefore calls for calm, well-organized decisions that are directly tied to the health of the colonies for fall and winter.

Dioecious tree or shrub with deciduous leaves. The male flowers have yellow anthers; the female flowers are inconspicuous, greenish, and develop at maturity into capsules rich in seeds.

European foulbrood is a bacterial disease of the brood in which the larvae usually die before capping. The official SSA/BGD checklist 2.2 describes typical signs such as patchy brood, yellowish to brown-black larvae, the match test, and a characteristic odor. It also specifies that this is a notifiable epizootic disease and that the apiary inspector must be called immediately.

Many animal species can be observed at apiaries, interacting directly or indirectly with bee colonies. This checklist presents the accompanying fauna, animals that are generally harmless and those that may cause problems, and describes the appropriate way to deal with these situations. The following information is based on the official checklist 3.4 of the Swiss Bee Health Service.

Bees do not close their eyes throughout their lives. Nevertheless, their activities are influenced by an intracerebral protein (pigment-dispersing factor, PDF), which enables them, among other things, to orient themselves in relation to the position of the sun.

Feeding is an essential part of colony management and helps to compensate for periods of food shortage while ensuring the development and wintering capacity of colonies. The timing, quantity, and type of food must be adapted to the strength of the colony and the season. The information below is based on the official checklist 4.2 of the Bee Health Service (SSA).

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.

While the bee amazes us with its highly social behaviour, its anatomy and multifunctional organs are truly awe-inspiring.

The bee is equipped with two antennae attached to the upper part of its head, composed of three main segments: the scape, the pedicel, and the flagellum. The antennae are in constant motion thanks to four muscles located in the head capsule that enable rotation of the scape; the latter contains two groups of muscles responsible for the movements of the flagellum and the pedicel. The motor neurons involved in activating these muscles (nine for the scape, six for the flagellum) have their cell bodies located in the dorsal lobe, which constitutes the motor and mechanosensory system of the antennae. The antennae thus serve as the bee’s central organs for perceiving its environment and, through thousands of sensilla, transmit an enormous amount of information linking it to the external world. The antennae therefore support the senses of smell, taste, touch, hearing, and the perception of electric fields.

The establishment of a flying nucleus colony (a nucleus formed at midday from a collective brood nucleus with an additional rearing unit) serves to deliberately supply young colonies with forager bees during the day and to promote their development. The following summary is based exclusively on the official Practical Guide 1.4.5 (BGD/SSA) and refers to the original source.

Like any living organism, the honey bee can become ill. The beekeeper must remain vigilant, as a disease can have serious consequences, especially if it is a so-called “notifiable contagious disease” (MRC). A beekeeper who has been practising this activity for many years will immediately detect even the slightest anomaly in the hives. For a beginner, however, it is often very difficult to identify a disease; this is why they must be much more observant, considerably more inquisitive, and always very attentive to what is happening on the landing board.

Das Bannwabenverfahren ist eine biotechnische Methode zur Varroabekämpfung, bei der die Eiablage der Königin gezielt auf bestimmte Brutwaben gelenkt wird. Dadurch kann die Brut und damit ein grosser Teil der Varroamilben kontrolliert entfernt werden. Die folgenden Hinweise basieren auf dem offiziellen Merkblatt 1.6.2 des Schweizerischen Bienengesundheitsdienstes.

Buddleia (scientific name: Buddleja davidii) is a shrub also known as the “butterfly bush”. Despite its appealing name, it is an invasive plant whose spread should be strictly limited.

Recognising bee diseases and knowing effective control and prevention methods are sine qua non conditions for ensuring bee health and for good beekeeping practice. Diseases spread not only very rapidly within hives because of physical contact between worker bees and trophallaxis (the exchange of food between bees), but also between hives. Because bees can fly over long distances, rob neighbouring colonies, or drift into them, the risk that a large number of colonies and apiaries will be affected by a disease or an epizootic is significant. When one also considers the movement of hives by beekeepers and the high density of apiaries in Switzerland, the prevention of epizootics and diseases becomes even more important in bees than in other livestock animals, which can be quarantined more easily.

(by Jean-Michel Normand)

Is it because it provides honey and wax? Or because its sophisticated organisation strangely echoes human societies? Or perhaps because of a character that is at once fierce and disciplined, making its domestication uncertain, or because of the way it positions itself at the confluence of the plant and animal worlds. Protean and tinged with mystery, the fascination exerted by the bee has endured for millennia, albeit with periods of interruption.

by SEAN BAILLY

Aurore Avarguès-Weber from the University of Toulouse and colleagues from Melbourne, Australia, under the direction of Adrian Dyer, have continued to explore the mathematical abilities of bees. They have now shown that bees are capable of addition
and subtraction.

Waste control makes it possible to draw numerous conclusions about the health status of a colony. Frequent checks do not disturb the colony. By examining the bottom boards, anomalies and irregularities can be identified, providing indications for future interventions to be carried out on the colony.

Perennial herbaceous plants with toothed leaves arranged in a basal rosette. The robust stems bear large inflorescences composed of numerous bisexual flowers, which may be yellow, orange or blue. The spherical infructescence consists of seeds that are dispersed by the wind thanks to their umbrella-shaped pappus.
In Switzerland, for example, the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), chicory (Cichorium intybus), as well as various species of hawk’s-beard (Crepis sp.) and hawkweed (Hieracium sp.) belong to the so-called “dandelion forms” (whose pollen is difficult to distinguish).

by Yves Martignoni and Julien Balet 

What do breeding instructors do? What is breeding? Is it something within my reach? These are some of the questions we will attempt to address in this article.

Yellow, orange, red, blue, grey or almost black: the pellets brought back to the hive offer a glimpse of the resources being exploited. Their colour can guide observation, but it is not sufficient either to identify a plant with certainty or to judge the nutritional quality of the pollen. The table proposed here should therefore be used as a field guide, not as an identification key.

Phacelia, Phacelia tanacetifolia, is an annual herbaceous plant reaching a height of between 50 and 120 cm. It originates from California and Mexico and was introduced into Europe in the 19th century. It occurs near dwellings and on wasteland, where it can even become invasive; however, it is mainly cultivated as a green manure, as a forage crop, or as an intermediate crop.

The creation of collective brood nuclei serves colony multiplication, supplementary feeding, or the rehabilitation of weakened stocks. This section summarises the key points of the official Practical Guide 1.4.4.1 and refers to the complete original source.

Is a bee that is staggering necessarily “drunk”? Experiments show that ethanol can disrupt its behavior, but the disturbances observed in the apiary may have many other causes. This article reviews the demonstrated effects of alcohol and the observations needed to examine its role under natural conditions.

Treatment with formic acid strips (Formicpro®) is an approved method for controlling the varroa mite during the brood-rearing phase of the honey bee colony. It enables controlled release of the active substance over a defined period. The following information is based on the official Practical Guide 1.2.5 of the Swiss Bee Health Service.

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!

In September, the apiary enters a critical phase: the health of the hives, their food stores, the quality of the queens, and the culling of colonies now take precedence over honey production. This month lays the groundwork for wintering: effective varroa treatment, replenishing food stores in a timely manner, and not artificially prolonging the life of colonies with no future are decisions that will directly impact the following spring.

April marks a decisive phase in the development of colonies. After winter, the population grows rapidly and activity in the apiary intensifies. Space management, observing the first signs of swarming, and health monitoring become priorities. Interventions must remain measured and be based above all on observation of the actual dynamics of the colony and the environment.

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?

Winter is undoubtedly the most demanding period for bees. However, nature has provided so-called “winter bees” with characteristics that enable them to withstand the rigours of the cold season. Winter bees have larger fat reserves than summer bees, they possess a more developed hair covering that provides natural insulation, and the contraction of the thoracic muscles generates a significantly greater release of heat than in summer bees. Their constitution, together with their behaviour, allows them to live longer and to cope with the harsh conditions of winter.

Nutrition appears to play a particularly important role in the health and immune defences of bees. They must have continuous access to nectar and pollen. However, this requirement is difficult to meet in modern agricultural landscapes. Periods without nectar flow during the most intensive phase of brood rearing slow colony growth and result in increased susceptibility to disease.