The winter of 2009/2010 has hit Switzerland’s bee population hard, with 22 per cent of their number not surviving.
This content was published on
1 minute
Another eight per cent have suffered so badly that they will not survive much longer, according to one of the country’s leading beekeepers’ associations.
According to a survey, the beekeepers estimate their losses at SFr10 million ($9 million), adding that the ecological consequences will be severe.
The figures are based on the estimates of 18,000 beekeepers in the German- and Romansch-speaking parts of the country.
The exact cause of the deaths remains a mystery, despite several scientific research projects.
According to the beekeepers, the main culprit is the varroa destructor, a parasitic mite from Asia that attacks honey bees.
swissinfo.ch and agencies
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Abroad
How centuries of Swiss emigrants left their mark on the US
Bodycams: essential for good law enforcement, or a privacy risk?
Did you ever come across bodycams in your place of residence and if so, how do you think the use of bodycams alter the relationship between the public and (transport) police?
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Giving up on pesticides “would affect yields”
This content was published on
In a recent biodiversity study carried out in nine regions across Europe, agricultural scientists from Göttingen University analysed the effects of 50 years of increasingly intensive farming on plants, beetles and birds. The result was that doubling a field’s cereal production would halve the number of plant species – and the species of birds and…
This content was published on
“It’s a passion but I’m trying to turn it into a business,” Aebischer says, still cheerful despite losing ten of his 32 colonies this winter. In Europe, China and the United States, beekeepers in recent years have been confronted with severe and sudden colony losses and there are fears for the survival of industry. Last…
This content was published on
Specialists are particularly concerned by the potential impact on agriculture and food production, as bees play an important role in pollinating plants. The problem is considered so serious that a bee health service might be even on the cards. Around 20 per cent of hives in Switzerland did not survive last winter, double what is…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.