15 percent of Swiss bee colonies did not survive the winter
Published: Monday, Jun 10th 2024, 16:10
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Last winter, 15 percent of bee colonies in Switzerland and Liechtenstein did not survive. Some of the losses are due to a parasite.
The loss rate was in line with the average of previous years, as the umbrella organization of Swiss beekeeping associations Apisuisse announced on Monday. This was based on the annual survey of a total of 1313 beekeepers.
In addition to the winter losses, there were also losses before wintering between August and October. These amounted to 7.4 percent, according to the press release. In addition, around 10 percent of the wintered bee colonies were too weak to develop into a strong colony this year.
In the last century, losses of up to ten percent were frequently recorded and considered "normal", according to the report. Since the turn of the millennium, higher loss rates have become more frequent and fluctuated at a high level from year to year.
Diverse range of flowers is missing
Apisuisse cites the Varroa mite as the cause of the losses. According to the website of the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, this can cause entire bee colonies to die. Other causes are still unclear, according to the Apisuisse press release.
One possible cause is the shortage of food. For their development, all bee species need a diverse range of flowers that provide them with nectar and pollen throughout the season. This is the only way the bees can optimally prepare for the winter. Especially in the summer months, this variety of flowers is lacking in many regions.
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