Avoid areas exposed to excessive humidity and wind
Areas exposed to humidity or excessive wind should be avoided for the apiary.
Excessive humidity and wind are poorly tolerated by bees and can favour the onset or worsening of honey bee diseases such as nosemosis or mycosis. To avoid excessive humidity, it is important to avoid extremely shaded areas and areas where fog persists. Excessive wind can drastically reduce the flying and foraging activity of bees, as well as the productivity and well-being of the honey bees. Furthermore, strong wind can uncover or even overturn the hives. To reduce the impact of the wind, the area should be well known and mapped, and advantage must be taken from the wood patches and tree-lined areas that can protect the hives from the stronger wind blow.
Placing the hives in areas with trees can be useful to reduce the effect of the wind, but in autumn and winter there should not be excessive humidity. It is important not to place the hives directly on the ground. This is both to prevent the wood from being damaged and to prevent humidity from entering the hive. It is important that the hives are of good quality and well maintained to avoid water infiltration (and ensure adequate thermal insulation). If possible, increase the roof covering to reduce the possibility of the external side walls of the hive getting wet. Avoid placing hives near watercourses and wetlands (e.g. lakes, ponds, etc.) and depression areas. It is important to make an on-site assessment to understand: the altitude of the terrain, any wind barriers present (or what kind of such barriers can be set up), the trend of the prevailing winds, and to reduce the exposure of the bees to the latter.
Warnings: May depend on the regulations in force in the given country.
Please check out the B-THENET Platform for the Best Beekeeping Practices tailored to each country in the national language, co-developed with practicing beekeepers in the National B-THENET Centres of those countries (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden).
BEST PRACTICES AND INNOVATIONS FOR A SUSTAINABLE BEEKEEPING
Ongoing | 2022-2026
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden