*3.2.2 Wintering*

Wintering is a harsh experience for colonies, but it is also a rest period. Inside the beehive, the worker bees form a cluster surrounding the queen bee, increase the body temperature by constantly fluttering their wings and maintain the central temperature of the cluster at 31–35°C. However, many of the worker bees die before spring comes. The wintering worker bees are those born in autumn. The bees surviving this harsh season are regarded as having excellent characteristics. The lifespan of worker bees is only about 30–40 days at the peak of nectar collection but reaches up to 5 months after wintering. These wintering bees should be utilized for strengthening the colonies. In order to recover the colony momentum lost during winter, the bee colonies must first be strengthened. Honey harvests should be avoided for a while after the start of bee activities in the early spring. In the early spring, the nectar plants are still not constant, so that the honey is a so-called mixed honey, which is used for the purpose of restoring the colony momentum. By refraining from early harvesting, the production of RJ and honey is promoted as a preparatory arrangement for the start of laying eggs by the queen bee. Harvesting of honey and RJ should be commenced after many worker bees emerged and the beehive is filled with worker bees.

#### *3.2.3 Location of apiary*

The beehives and the hive frames are important factors in the living environments of honeybees, and it is essential to keep these clean in order to maintain the health of colonies. The cleanliness of colonies is also closely related to prevention of apicultural product contamination. It is therefore necessary to keep beehives clean and old beehives that have existed for 5 years or longer should not be used.

In order to obtain high-quality apicultural products, the apiary should be located in a secluded highland, even though transportation of colonies is expensive. This is because the damage caused by various insects and bacteria can be avoided in locations that are high above sea level (**Figures 1–4**).

The following conditions are desirable for the location of apiaries:

i. high above sea level

ii. dry

iii. not windy

iv. south-facing


*Kikuji Yamaguchi Principles of Natural Beekeeping: A Novel Bio-Method of Natural Beekeeping… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89647*

Furthermore, the following conditions are also desirable:


has recently been an increase in artificial mating of queen bees. On the other hand, such selective breeding tends to lead to inbreeding, resulting in new secondary problems such as shortened lifespan of queen bees, reduced disease resistance and loss of specific biological capability. In order to solve these problems, it is important to avoid the degeneration of species appearing after artificial inbreeding by means

Wintering is a harsh experience for colonies, but it is also a rest period. Inside the beehive, the worker bees form a cluster surrounding the queen bee, increase the body temperature by constantly fluttering their wings and maintain the central temperature of the cluster at 31–35°C. However, many of the worker bees die before spring comes. The wintering worker bees are those born in autumn. The bees surviving this harsh season are regarded as having excellent characteristics. The lifespan of worker bees is only about 30–40 days at the peak of nectar collection but reaches up to 5 months after wintering. These wintering bees should be utilized for strengthening the colonies. In order to recover the colony momentum lost during winter, the bee colonies must first be strengthened. Honey harvests should be avoided for a while after the start of bee activities in the early spring. In the early spring, the nectar plants are still not constant, so that the honey is a so-called mixed honey, which is used for the purpose of restoring the colony momentum. By refraining from early harvesting, the production of RJ and honey is promoted as a preparatory arrangement for the start of laying eggs by the queen bee. Harvesting of honey and RJ should be commenced after many worker bees emerged and the

The beehives and the hive frames are important factors in the living environments of honeybees, and it is essential to keep these clean in order to maintain the health of colonies. The cleanliness of colonies is also closely related to prevention of apicultural product contamination. It is therefore necessary to keep beehives clean and old beehives that have existed for 5 years or longer should not be used.

In order to obtain high-quality apicultural products, the apiary should be located in a secluded highland, even though transportation of colonies is expensive. This is because the damage caused by various insects and bacteria can be avoided in

The following conditions are desirable for the location of apiaries:

of appropriate interbreeding.

*Modern Beekeeping - Bases for Sustainable Production*

beehive is filled with worker bees.

i. high above sea level

ii. dry

**122**

iii. not windy

iv. south-facing

v. mild temperature

vi. far away from noisy environments.

locations that are high above sea level (**Figures 1–4**).

*3.2.3 Location of apiary*

*3.2.2 Wintering*

The bee forage is a substantial base for beekeeping and also a major food source for survival of honeybees and the prosperity of descendants. Therefore, the bee forage should basically be native grass flowers or tree flowers in the agrochemicalfree area located in the highland or mountain area at least 2000 m above sea level. It is possible to cultivate a bee forage by seeding, but in such cases, it is necessary to prevent contamination of apicultural products by using a bee forage cultivated

#### **Figure 1.**

*An ideal location of the apiary for natural beekeeping. It should be in a secluded highland where the target nectar plant grows in a concentrated manner, the flowing season of the target nectar plant is different from that of other plant, and far away from agrochemical-using farms of commercial plant.*

using natural fertilizers or home-made organic fertilizers without the use of chemical fertilizers. For the time being, in order to avoid this problem, we should consider beekeeping in areas that remain un-contaminated.

The author's group started RJ production by the natural beekeeping proposed by the author in 1993 in an un-contaminated (agrochemical-free and chemical fertilizer-free) area of Chinese highland 3200–3500 m above sea level (Qing Hai, Menyuan). The honeybees used in this area are of the Occidental species, but the harvested RJ is satisfactory in both quality and quantity. In particular, the 10-HDA value is as high as 2.8% when harvested after 48 h, and no contamination with antibiotics has been detected at all. Such organic areas remain more prevalent in China than in Japan. Beekeeping in un-contaminated bee forages is absolutely necessary for production of high-quality apicultural products (**Figures 1** and **2**).
