MODULE 1 — Understanding bees and their ecosystem

Goal: provide learners with the essential biological and ecological basics before installing any hive.

1.1. The essential role of bees in nature

Pollination: a major ecological service

• Over 70% of food crops depend directly or indirectly on pollinators.
• A single colony can visit several million flowers per day.
• In cities, floral diversity (balconies, parks, gardens) is often richer than in intensive farming areas.

Impact on biodiversity

• Bees maintain the reproduction of many wild plants.
• They support food chains (birds, insects, small mammals).
• Their presence improves the resilience of urban ecosystems.

Why urban bees often produce more honey

• Longer flowering periods throughout the year.
• Generally fewer pesticides than in some agricultural zones.
• Milder temperatures due to the urban heat island effect.

1.2. Colony organization

The queen

• Only one queen per hive.
• Role: laying up to 2,000 eggs per day.
• Lifespan: around 3 to 5 years.
• Releases pheromones that maintain colony cohesion.

Worker bees

• Non-reproductive females.
• Lifespan: 4–6 weeks in summer, 4–6 months in winter.
• Successive roles: cleaners, nurses, builders, ventilators, guards, foragers.

Drones

• Males of the colony.
• Main role: mate with a virgin queen.
• No stinger, do not perform hive tasks.
• Often expelled in autumn to save resources.

1.3. Life cycle of a bee

Main stages

• Egg: about 3 days.
• Larva: about 6 days.
• Pupa: about 12 days.
• Adult bee.

Total duration by bee type

• Queen: 16 days.
• Worker: 21 days.
• Drone: 24 days.

Factors influencing a healthy life cycle

• Internal hive temperature (around 35 °C).
• Quality and availability of food.
• Presence of parasites (such as varroa mites).
• Environmental stress (pollution, lack of floral resources).

1.4. Bee races suitable for urban beekeeping

Buckfast

• Very gentle.
• Productive.
• Low swarming tendency.
• Well suited for beginners.

Carnica (Carniolan)

• Very calm.
• Adapted to various climates.
• Fast spring build-up.

Local dark bee

• Resistant.
• Well adapted to local conditions.
• Sometimes more defensive.

Italian (Ligustica)

• Gentle.
• Excellent forager.
• Consumes more winter stores.

1.5. Why these basics are essential

• Avoid beginner mistakes that stress the colony.
• Recognize a healthy colony.
• Identify warning signs (swarming, diseases, weakness).
• Choose a hive type and bee race adapted to the urban environment.

Module summary

At the end of this module, you can explain the ecological role of bees, describe colony organization, understand the bee life cycle, identify several bee races suitable for urban beekeeping, and understand why these basics are crucial before installing a hive.