Eric Tourneret ©

A bee is born The bee is a remarkable social insect that has remained unchanged for almost 80 million years.

Bees are born quickly and very soon play a partin the social activity of the hive.

A honey bee lives for six weeks in summerand six months in winter.

A royal cell filled with royal jelly

Royal jelly is an elixir of youth and vitality.Royal jelly is an elixir of youth and vitality.It is the only food fed to young bee larvae.It is the only food fed to young bee larvae.

Queen bees live exclusively on royal jelly Queen bees live exclusively on royal jelly for their entire lifetime. for their entire lifetime.

Eric Tourneret ©

The nuptial flight of the QueenThe young Queen has not yet ventured out of her hive... When she is ready to mate, she leaves the hive on a sunny, wind-free day.

Mating takes place during fl ight and is fatal to the drones, who die immediately after.

A queen bee is only fertilized once in her life and willlay around 2,000 eggs a day for four years.

Eric Tourneret ©

The Queen and her court A hive is home to one Queen,several hundred drones (reproductive males)and 40,000 to 60,000 workers.

Eric Tourneret ©

Fotolia ©Fotolia ©

Life in the beehive

and at the hive entrance

Numerous worker bees areresponsible for gathering pollen,

storing honey, collecting propolis, and taking care of the hive.

Bernard Chevilliat ©Fotolia ©

Gathering and storingpollen Using the “pollen combs” on their legs, bees gather pollen from fl owers and carry it in bundles back to the hive,where it is stored in cells.

Fotolia ©iStockphoto ©

Harvesting honey Honey is harvested in spring and summer, depending on the fl owering season.

To produce a single kilogram of honey, bees must visit some 500,000fl owers and travel some 40,000 km— the equivalent of the Earth’s circumference!

Excellent pollinators Bees are and responsible for 80% of pollination.Bees are and responsible for 80% of pollination.

Every spring, half of the domestic bee coloniesEvery spring, half of the domestic bee coloniesin the United States are sent to California,in the United States are sent to California,the world’s biggest almond producer, to pollinate the world’s biggest almond producer, to pollinate its almond trees.its almond trees.

A third of the world’s agricultural production is A third of the world’s agricultural production is dependent on bees!dependent on bees!

Eric Tourneret ©

A hive in the mountains

Migratory beekeepers move their hives from one place to another, based on where the

plants are in fl ower, to produce different types of honey (such as lavender honey in July, etc.).

Thinhstock ©

Thinkstock ©Fotolia ©

The collapse of bee colonies and the The collapse of bee colonies and the sudden, alarming disappearance of sudden, alarming disappearance of

bees affects all bee species bees affects all bee species (wild or domestic). By respecting (wild or domestic). By respecting bees and providing a habitat for bees and providing a habitat for

them, we can help take care of them. them, we can help take care of them.

Wild bees anddomesticatedbees need HELP!

Bernard Chevilliat ©

Take action! “They are the guardians of the environment,“They are the guardians of the environment,they contribute to ecological diversity.they contribute to ecological diversity.With the Melvita Foundation, you can act to With the Melvita Foundation, you can act to protect them!” protect them!” —Bernard Chevilliat—Bernard Chevilliat