BeeConnected ↗

Winter honey bee colony losses are difficult to anticipate, and beekeepers often lack early signs of decline. BeeConnected consortium investigated which changes inside the hive and in the surrounding environment can predict colony mortality across different climates and landscapes.

Large-scale field monitoring combined regular colony inspections with low-cost connected sensors. Ecological observations and sensor data were analysed with statistical and mechanistic models to identify early-warning signals.

The project generated shared monitoring datasets and identified measurable signals linked to brood status, colony condition and winter survival. These results support the development of early-warning and decision-support tools for beekeepers.

• Vardakas P., Mainardi G., Minaud E., Patalano S., Rebaudo F., Requier F., Steffan-Dewenter I., Hatjina F. (2024). Unveiling beekeepers’ use and preference of precision apiculture systems. Journal of Apicultural Research. DOI: 10.1080/00218839.2024.2355813 →
• Minaud E., Rebaudo F., Davidson P., Hatjina F., Hotho A., Mainardi G., Steffan-Dewenter I., Vardakas P., Verrier E., Requier F. (2024). How stressors disrupt honey bee biological traits and overwintering mechanisms. Heliyon, DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34390 →
• Minaud E., Rebaudo F., Mainard G., Vardakas P., Hatjina F., Steffan-Dewenter I, Requier F. (2024). Temperature in overwintering honey bee colonies reveals brood status and predicts colony mortality. Ecological Indicators. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112961 →
• Mainardi G., Sponsler D., Minaud E., Vardakas P., Charistos L., Requier F., Hatjina F., Steffan-Dewenter I. (2025). Floral diversity enhances winter survival of honeybee colonies across climatic regions. Journal of Applied Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.70054 →

ELGO-DIMITRA, Université Paris-Saclay, ICT Agri-Food

https://www.ictagrifood.eu/node/44639