We are pleased to inform you all that the presentations and photos of the Better-B public event held on 14 Nov 2024 in Wageningen are now available on our dedicated webpage. Enjoy browsing!

Our next Better-B public event is quickly approaching (14 Nov 2024, Wageningen and online) and the final agenda is now available on our dedicated webpage. 

Join us for this event, if you would like to learn more about Darwinian selection, our beeplant catalogue and hive designs for thermoregulation. For those joining us in person, there will also be a free networking lunch.

Two days in the life of Better-B were accompanied by Stephen Fleming from BeeCraft. Enjoy reading his story about the search for the varroa-tolerant bee in Nottinghamshire!

Automatic hive monitoring is a key element in the honeybee research of BETTER-B. Sensors are used to measure quantitative data on activities of the colonies. Wireless protocols are used to collect the information and trigger alarms if anything is wrong.

The BETTER-B partners use the BEEP research platform for hive monitoring, data management as well as for digital inspections. This allows registration of actions and observations in a structured and standardised way. These inspection are key to allow interpretation of the automatically acquired hive and weather data.

Here below we show and describe how the systems work.

Above: The BEEP base with the wooden bottom board and microphone holder. The yellow centerpiece contains the weight sensor (loadcell) which measures the full weight of the hive. The external battery back attached to the BEEP base computer is also visible. A black button is used to turn the system on and off and to establish a bluetooth connection with the app. The data storage (‘real-time’) clock is not visible: it is fitted in the computer box.

These are heyday for bees, hoverflies and other pollinators. I would like to take you on my tour on Saturday, June 22, 2024. It was finally, after weeks of rain and low temperatures, a very beautiful day. I combine my beeplants.eu rounds with walking the dog and depending on where plants are blooming, I adjust my route. This day I started with the privet (Ligustrum vulgare); as many as 25 bees, 10 bumblebees and 14 hoverflies. I've never had so many before. Then on to the meadow crown (Knautia spp.). Four honey bees and three hovering flies, a few steps further than the flowering vipersøs bugloss (Echium spp). With only bumblebees, I saw 13 bumblebees within my “at a glance”. I ended my tour at a rose bed (Rosa spp), almost impossible with so many insects. I took a countable piece and noted 30 honeybees, 15 bumblebees, 10 solitary bees and 14 hoverflies. Same round again tomorrow!