As of: March 14, 2024, 6:00 p.m
By: Franziska Konrad
Comments
Press
Split
Dangerous basis of life: the honeycombs in beehives.
The offspring of the small insects grow in it.
At the same time, the deadly Varroa mite nests there.
© Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
Long, cold winters have long since become a rarity.
Spring is starting earlier and earlier.
This is not without consequences for local bees.
It means more work for beekeepers.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen – Long, cold winters have long become a rarity in the region.
Instead, spring always begins sooner.
This results in serious challenges for local bee colonies - and significantly more work for beekeepers.
“Because of the mild weather, the colonies often breed throughout the winter.
Or they start again at the turn of the year,” explains Cornelia Theus from the Egling Beekeeping Association.
This is exactly what promotes the development of the Varroa mite, “currently the greatest threat to bee colonies”.
Varroa mite “currently the biggest threat to bee colonies”
The parasite develops in the so-called brood, the offspring of bees, in the hive.
The pests cannot therefore multiply while the bees are taking a break from breeding.
“If this resting phase is lost, more mites will appear.”
They feed on the fat body of the bee, which is injured in the process.
Other pathogens enter the insect through the wounds.
“We are really facing a really big problem here,” emphasizes the 57-year-old.
“At some point the people become so sick and weak that they die.”
Beekeepers now play an even more important role.
“There are many ways to combat it,” says Thomas Schuhbauer from the Lenggries Beekeeping Association.
“For example with lactic acid, but that is very time-consuming.” Speaking of effort.
This is becoming significantly larger for beekeepers, and not just because of the Varroa mite.
Thomas Schuhbauer, beekeeper from Lenggries.
© arp/archive
After the last honey harvest in September, beekeepers provide the bees with sugar water.
Usually this food lasts until April or May.
However, if the small honey producers breed, things look different.
“If you as a beekeeper don’t pay attention and feed more, the colonies will starve.”
Climate change and parasites: Bees threatened - “50 years ago the task for us beekeepers was much easier”
According to the 70-year-old, there is still no threat of a major extinction of the local bees.
In the Lenggries area alone, around 700 to 800 bee colonies fly through nature.
It cannot be ruled out that entire peoples will die in the near future.
“In such cases it is up to us to maintain colony numbers.
If necessary, through breeding.”
My news
One year after the opening: All shops in BGZ2 rented - What's the truth about the rumors about Aldi? read
After “macho” accusations: children’s playgrounds are now being designed to be gender-neutral
Geretsried building committee says no to asylum accommodation - but they could still come read
No parking on the town entrance road: Citizens' proposal met with approval in the city council
Looking for a hostel at Easter time: Believers in the Evangelical Community no longer have a home read
65 years of happiness in love: Theres and Theodor Sturm's secret of a long marriage
We can no longer beekeeper like we used to.
The days when beekeepers only focused on harvesting honey are long gone.
Cornelia Theus, from the Eglinger Beekeeping Association
Schuhbauer’s conclusion: “50 years ago the task for us beekeepers was much easier.
Because of the cold winters, there were no such problems.” His colleague Theus sees it similarly.
“We can no longer beekeeper like we used to.
The days when beekeepers only focused on honey harvesting are long gone.”
(Our Wolfratshausen-Geretsried newsletter regularly informs you about all important stories from your region. Sign up here.)
You can also support the little animals with flower strips.
“Such areas are infinitely good for the bees,” says Theus.
“The more varied the diet, the better.
It’s like us humans.”
Susanne Karner recently looked at her bees in the hive for the first time since winter.
“Unfortunately, they flew out far too early,” complains the Geretsried beekeeper.
If the weather is warm enough, the insects are drawn to nature - if the temperatures are spring-like too early, they are more likely to fly away.
Susanne Karner, beekeeper from Geretsried.
© Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss
“But nothing is blooming yet.
That's why I added more food." Aside from that, the vice-chairman of the Geretsrieder Beekeeping Association is particularly struck by the consequences of climate change.
The past honey year was relatively good, “but the year before that was bone dry.”
The problem is that if there is too little rainfall, the flowers are too dry.
“Nectar doesn’t flow in dry flowers.
Without nectar there is not a drop of honey,” explains Karner.
“It ended fatally for many of my bees.”
Any citizen who owns a garden can help the little buzzers, said the 51-year-old.
By growing bee-friendly plants and beds.
These include scented nettles, perennial lavender and perennial sunflower.
Beekeeper Susanne Karner: “Ultimately, honey is only created where something is blooming.
It’s all a big interaction.”
kof
You can read the latest news from the Wolfratshausen/Geretsried region here.