Intensive beekeeping

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Introduction

Intensive beekeeping is the widely-used, conventional method of managing European races of Apis mellifera honey bees in frame hives. This system is now approaching a globalised method, utilising the same types of bees, containing the same range of pathogens, and being fed with refined sugar to replace the harvested honey. This type of beekeeping is practised by many beekeepers in many countries, and can be done on a large scale, with single operations managing thousands of honey bee colonies. Using Bees for Development’s approach considering environment, genetics and management practices, intensive beekeeping may be characterised as follows:

Concerning genetics

  • The breeding and selection of bees for traits considered desirable by humans (as opposed to natural selection), for example, low rate of swarming, yellow colour, docile behaviour.

  • Instrumental insemination of queens – the queen can be damaged during this manipulation, and drone selection is by the beekeeper, not by the natural selection that takes place when bees mate naturally in drone congregation areas.

  • The prevention of swarming – natural swarming maintains crucial diversity and genetic integrity of honey bee populations.

Concerning management

  • The prevention of swarming – we are only beginning to appreciate that in addition to maintaining crucial genetic fitness, swarming is an important part of the self-healing behaviour of honey bee colonies, ridding itself of pathogens.

  • The transportation of bee colonies from one area to another – often over large distances. We do not know the effect upon the bee colonies of being confined, disorientated, stressed by temperature, vibration etc.

  • Abuse of bees, including clipping of queens’ wings, killing of drone brood.

  • Sugar feeding and feeding substitutes for natural flower pollen.

  • The use of plastic hives, and painting hives with plastic type paints – though we do not know how these might affect colonies.

  • Prophylactic use of medicines against bacterial diseases.

  • Use of contaminated beeswax foundation, use of plastic foundation.

  • Aggressive honey harvest.

Concerning the environment

  • Large numbers of honey bee colonies – placed close together, often within intensively farmed landscapes.

  • Agrochemicals including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides present in nectar and pollen gathered by bees and accumulated in their beeswax.

  • Decreasing diversity and abundance of wild flowers.

  • Genetically engineered pollen in Brassica, maize, soya and other crops – though we do not know their effect, if any.

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Last Updated: 4 December 2024

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