After the bad year of 2021 due to wet weather conditions, the year 2022 was looking much better for bees and beekeepers with a good spring honey harvest.

But the weather has again had a major impact on bee colonies and wild pollinators this year, due to the drought this summer.

With the high temperatures, water sources are drying up and becoming much scarcer. In one week, a hive can consume up to 100 litres of water. This lack of water forces the bees to travel longer distances to find water, which makes them more tired.

But the problem lies mainly in the lack of food resources. In times of drought, plants find it harder to grow and dry out quickly. During this hot summer, many flowering plants did not produce any nectar. Pollinators (bees, bumblebees, butterflies, flies and beetles) were therefore deprived of food.

With no more food to gather, honeybees are forced to deplete their reserves, which were stored to last the winter. Faced with starvation, the queen reduces her egg laying. This reduction in brood results in a drop in the hive population, which directly impacts the nectar and pollen supply of the foragers.

Like farmers who had to feed hay to their livestock this summer, many beekeepers had to feed their colonies.