Ecological beekeeping and the use of natural insulating material with the functions of moisture absorption and antiseptic properties.

Now, in connection with the severe environmental situation in the world, and the abundance of applied artificial materials and medical preparations, including beekeeping, beekeepers face an important task to make the industry of beekeeping more environmentally friendly and clean. It is necessary, as far as possible, to reduce the use of artificial materials and antibiotics when keeping bees.

Partly, such tasks could be performed with the usage of a simple plant that grows abundantly in all cold regions of the world. This moss - sphagnum. Sphagnum is a genus of approximately 380 accepted species of mosses, commonly known as peat moss. Accumulations of Sphagnum can store water, since both living and dead plants can hold large quantities of water inside their cells; plants may hold 16-26 times as much water as their dry weight, depending on the species.

Sphagnum has antiseptic properties. Up to the Second World War it was used for dressing wounds, especially in conditions of shortage of cotton wool.

So, how we can use this valuable plant in beekeeping? In beekeeping, dry sphagnum is successfully used as a pillow filler, which serves as a heat-insulating element in the summer and especially in winter. In summer, the pillow insulates the bee's nest from the hive's overheated roof, making it easier for the bees to cool the nest during the heat. In winter, such a pillow is simply indispensable. In winter, moss pillow, stuffed with sphagnum not only isolates the bees nest from the heavily chilled roof of the hive, but also removes moisture and works as "natural antibiotic pill" in the hive throughout the whall winter.

When temperature in winter changes from warm to cold and back, drops of condensate because of warm bees breathing are not formed, because there is no cold ceiling, as a center of condensation. Moss picks up moisture. Sometimes it is necessary to dry the cushion in spring, as it becomes very wet.

Filling of the pillow should be loose. Not pressed. Before laying in the hive, it is necessary to shake up the pillow. If your hives are placed in special place for wintering, it's better not to cover hives with roof. These will provide enough opportunity for convective ventilation. , Put 2-3 wooden bars on the frames in order the bees could move freely from frame to frame, give enough food for bees, and the rest will be done by this fantastic plant.

Source: http://cordis.europa.eu/news/rcn/141973_en.html?isPermaLink=true&WT.mc_i...