Content Blocks
Museum of Natural History Vienna
The Sandberge Oberweiden nature reserve in eastern Lower Austria is one of the most important habitats for wild bees in Austria. In 2018/2019, researchers from the National Museum of Natural History rediscovered a small species of sweat bee, Halictus tectus, which had been thought to be regionally extinct. They also found, however, that species diversity has declined by over 50% since a broad survey by Austrian bee researcher Bruno Pittioni that was carried out in the 1930s and 1940s. A total of 164 species that had previously occurred at the site have not been seen after 1966. A key reason for the disappearance of many species appears to be the qualitative change of the steppe grassland in the area, which is increasingly grassing over, i.e. has fewer flowering species, and exhibits an altered floral composition compared to the past. Concrete data on the change in plant populations remain outstanding, however.
The aim of our project is to find out which species of plants were used as nectar and pollen sources by wild bees in the past, especially by those species of bee that have since become regionally extinct. It is fortunate that Bruno Pittioni’s historical collection still exists and that he didn’t “clean” the bees the way many earlier collectors did, so traces of the pollen they had collected at the time can still be found. This pollen can be genetically analysed to identify the plant species that should be cultivated in the nature reserve in the future.
Mellifera
The Wild Bee Experience Kit is designed to encourage sustainable action while illustrating environmental relationships in a way that children can understand. The kit includes a miniature hive, finger puppets and compound eyes, and a nesting box to let the little explorers discover how wild bees live by seeing the world through the eyes of these fascinating insects. To ensure that educators are properly trained to support children in exploring their world, and to help establish bee conservation as an integral part of educators’ training. ARCOTEL Hotels is sponsoring 20 bee experience kits at teacher education programmes.
To Mellifera
Emergency aid for beekeepers
Hail, windstorms, torrential rain – beekeepers are also affected by the increasingly frequent weather extremes and environmental disasters. Especially for smaller businesses or private individuals who practice beekeeping as a hobby or on the side, the destruction of a hive often represents a serious financial loss – besides the sentimental aspect, of course. Our emergency aid for beekeepers is designed to provide rapid assistance in an unbureaucratic fashion. Contact us at produktion@arcotel.com or +43 664 533 49 09
Youbee: Beehive Inside 23
Bees use electric fields for communication. Studies have shown that bees gain an electric charge when flying around or while performing their waggle dance, and that the electrical fields that build up allow the insects to talk to each other. Through special receptors in their antennae, the animals receive information as to the location of foraging sites.
Beehive Inside 23 is a project to explore the inside of a beehive with a special focus on electrical fields. When does the electrical charge in the hive change? How does the weather influence the readings? Does the charge increase when the bees have more food available? The measurements can be used to draw conclusions about the behaviour of the colony in the hive. This information could be of great value to beekeepers, as it provides a quick way to detect certain changes in the hive and so allow countermeasures to be taken, if necessary.
To YoubeeBeehive Inside 23 is a project to explore the inside of a beehive with a special focus on electrical fields. When does the electrical charge in the hive change? How does the weather influence the readings? Does the charge increase when the bees have more food available? The measurements can be used to draw conclusions about the behaviour of the colony in the hive. This information could be of great value to beekeepers, as it provides a quick way to detect certain changes in the hive and so allow countermeasures to be taken, if necessary.
Honeybee sponsorship at Vienna Zoo
The oldest zoo in the world, part of the Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracts around two million visitors every year. The zoo has a reputation for its nature and wildlife conservation projects, which it supports with research, workshops and informational events. Bees are also in the spotlight at the zoo, which maintains a special bee exhibit where visitors can learn more about the usefulness of bees and what can be done to protect their populations. Our honeybee sponsorship keeps the bee exhibit running in 2023.
To The Vienna Zoo Schönbrunn
Project 2028 – Hektar Nektar
The Hektar Nektar project takes a unique approach to fighting bee decline by helping first-time beekeepers get off the ground. Beekeepers are important to increase bee populations worldwide, but getting started is often difficult due to the high start-up costs involved. This is where Hektar Nektar comes in, by sponsoring (certified) beekeepers to cover the costs of their first colony and the necessary equipment.
To the project Hektar Nektar
