BeeGuards is testing an innovative, low-input honey bee management strategy across a network of apiaries in 11 European countries. The approach aims to improve colony resilience by reducing reliance on chemical treatments and supplementary feeding while supporting natural selection for health and adaptation.
The management concept combines threshold-based decision making with biotechnical Varroa control methods, including induced brood interruption during summer. Winter treatments are applied only when mite infestation levels exceed established damage thresholds. Colony performance, health, productivity, and survival are compared with conventionally managed colonies under diverse environmental and climatic conditions.
The study is implemented in both research institution-led and beekeeper-led apiaries and runs over two consecutive seasons to capture the effects of weather variability and extreme climate events on honey bee resilience.
Innovative management
