{"id":20589,"date":"2026-08-11T16:31:46","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T14:31:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beefeed.com\/api-of-the-month-47\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T16:31:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T14:31:49","slug":"api-of-the-month-47","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beefeed.com\/en\/api-of-the-month-47\/","title":{"rendered":"API of the month"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mathieu DOMECQ<\/strong>Editor-in-chief of the API of the Month and Blog<\/em><\/p>\n\n

The shift towards a summer of extreme heat and prolonged drought has turned everything upside down. This August, the sunflower and lavender flowering seasons have already come to an end, often cut short by the plants\u2019 water stress. <\/strong>The landscape is now dry, and nectar sources have dried up much earlier than expected.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

This month, we will be looking at the direct impact of this weather on harvests and the vitality of colonies. We will see why it is essential to plan ahead for the harvest and to start treatment against the Varroa mite without delay. With bee populations declining early due to the summer food shortage, early treatment is now the only effective strategy to protect the emergence of future winter bees and ensure the survival of the colony.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

\"Mathieu<\/figure>\n\n\u00a0\r\n\n

Tasks of the month<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

August marks the end of the production season and the start of the next beekeeping year for the beekeeper. The hustle and bustle of the summer honey flows gives way to calm and vigilance in the face of the persistent drought. From parched sunflower fields to harvested lavender plateaus, nature is entering a dormant phase and nectar sources are becoming scarce.<\/p>\n\n

The supers have now been removed and the honey is at the honey house. It is time for the beekeeper to take stock, but also to carry out rescue and protection measures. Here are the main tasks to be carried out at the apiary this month:<\/p>\n\n

Finishing off the summer harvests and extracting honey<\/strong>: The very last honey flows (sunflower, lavender or fir) are now over. It is time to remove the final supers from the apiary to carry out the extraction. Take care not to leave the empty supers on the hives for too long to prevent looting between colonies, as natural resources become very scarce at this time of year.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
Honey harvesting with a brush, frame by frame<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Start Varroa treatment<\/strong>: This is the top priority in August. As soon as the honey has been harvested, you must begin Varroa treatments. In August, the Varroa mite population is at its peak, whilst the bee population is declining. Early treatment is essential to protect the precious \u2018winter bees\u2019 \u2013 the ones that will keep the colony alive until spring. Whether you\u2019re a hobbyist or a professional, opt for strip treatments rather than a homemade acid-based solution.<\/p>\n\n

Feeding and stimulating the queen\u2019s egg-laying<\/strong>: Due to drought and a lack of flowers, the queen may stop laying eggs early if there is a shortage of food. To ensure she lays enough winter bees, supplementary feeding to top up winter reserves may be necessary, depending on the weight of the hive.<\/p>\n\n

The honey flowers of the month<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

clover (nectar), sunflower (nectar and pollen), lavender (nectar)\u2026<\/p>\n\n

Read more on page 2<\/a><\/p>\n\n\u00a0\r\n\n\n\n

Climate and economic scourge for beekeeping<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

In the year 2026, we are facing a new wave of intense and prolonged heatwaves. Whilst spring had promised an exceptional beekeeping season thanks to ideal weather conditions, the summer is turning into a nightmare for many beekeepers. Faced with extremely high temperatures, the colonies\u2019 top priority has suddenly shifted. It is no longer a question of building up honey reserves, but of surviving the furnace-like heat.<\/p>\n\n

To maintain the brood at its optimum temperature of around 35 \u00b0C, the bees must actively ventilate the interior of the hive and transport huge quantities of water into it. The evaporation of this water acts as a natural air-conditioning system, but this thermal rescue comes at a dramatic cost to production. A massive proportion of the worker bees find themselves reassigned to the exclusive role of water carriers. Busy hydrating the colony and feeding the brood, the bees can no longer devote themselves to foraging. Nectar collection comes to a sudden halt, just as nature is offering its most abundant summer blooms.<\/p>\n\n

The two mainstays of summer beekeeping \u2013 lavender and sunflowers \u2013 are bearing the brunt of this disruption. Beekeepers who have moved their hives to the lavender-covered plateaus are facing a disastrous outcome, as the extreme heat prevents the plant from secreting its precious nectar. \nSome hives remained completely empty, with not a single kilo of honey to show for it. As for the sunflowers, the situation is just as bleak. The crops withered away at record speed due to water stress. In the space of just ten days, flowering came to an end, the flower heads drooped towards the ground and dried up, leaving nothing for the already exhausted insects to forage on. \n<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
Sunflower honey production is running out very quickly this year.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Faced with this early and abrupt end to the honey flow, beekeepers\u2019 health management strategies must be adapted without delay. Beekeepers have no choice but to bring forward the harvest to July, as soon as flowering has finished. Waiting until the end of August or into September is a common strategic mistake, often made by hobby beekeepers who prioritise their holiday plans. However, removing the supers from the hives as early as July is crucial in order to begin treatment against Varroa destructor immediately. This parasite proliferates all the more rapidly as the bee population declines in late summer. Early treatment guarantees the survival of the future winter bees, a vital issue for the long-term survival of the colony that cannot be delayed.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
The varroa mite, a formidable predator of bees<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

As usual, share your photos with us: we’ll post them on our website from the social networks with the hashtag: #apifonda #apiinvert!<\/p>\n\n

See you next month on your API blog with your faithful partner, Les Ruchers De Mathieu!<\/p>\n\n

\"LES<\/figure>\n\n

LES RUCHERS DE MATHIEU<\/strong>Miellerie & Magasin d\u2019Apiculture<\/p>\n\n

Photos \u00a9lesruchersdemathieu<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The shift towards a summer of extreme heat and prolonged drought has turned everything upside down. This August, the sunflower and lavender flowering seasons have already come to an end, often cut short by the plants\u2019 water stress. 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