In conventional beekeeping, the focus is on maximum honey yield. The use of chemicals, such as formic acid, and modern magazine hives, which are often made of Styrofoam, are currently among the accepted means of beekeeping. However, this is not species-appropriate beekeeping. In the magazine hives the air humidity is much too high. The construction of the combs, both the construction direction and the cell size, is predetermined for the bees. In some cases, beekeepers practice pure breeding, in which natural reproduction is prevented. And on top of that, the bees receive acid treatment to minimize the infestation of Varroa destructor, also called Varroa mite. As a result, the bees have lost their defensiveness. They have been bred to be docile worker bees and are easier prey for enemies. All of these criticisms of modern beekeeping are harmful to bee colonies, but can maximize honey yield.

A naturalistic habitat is needed for species-appropriate beekeeping. This can be provided, for example, by Torben Schiffer’s SchifferTree. In addition, animal-friendly husbandry includes living in a natural symbiosis with other animals, such as book scorpions. Book scorpions belong to the genus of pseudoscorpions and the class of arachnids. The 2 to 5 mm small animals feel at home in dry areas, such as tree bark or in books. There they can hunt, among other things, dust bunnies or mites. But also beehives have always been part of the natural habitat of book scorpions.

Is it worth buying book scorpions?

Bees and book scorpions have lived together in a harmonious symbiosis for centuries. The pseudoscorpions can go in search of mites in peace, while the bees go about their activities. Therefore, the use of book scorpions can decimate varroa mite infestations. Until now, acid treatment has usually been used in hives to eliminate the bees’ main enemy. However, this does not kill all Varroa mites in a hive. The surviving mites reproduce and represent the next generation of more resistant and vital Varroa mites. Consequently, Varroa mites can be definitively controlled with the purchase of book scorpions and their targeted use in the hive.

Species-appropriate beekeeping or maximum honey yield at any price?

Either the focus is on maximum honey yield and the ongoing bee mortality and vitality breeding of varroa mites is accepted. Or species-appropriate beekeeping is pursued and thus more emphasis is placed on healthy bee colonies with less honey yield. Who decides for bee trees and book scorpions, contributes to the fact that the main enemy of the honey bee can be fought in the long term and bees can come again to their original vital form. Accordingly, the purchase of book scorpions and species-appropriate beekeeping is worthwhile for those for healthy honey bees.