health
February 23, 2026
How an annual ‘wedding flight’ of 1,000 virgin queens is ensuring the revival of Europe’s dark bee
The Belgian ceremony attracts beekeepers from the Netherlands, France and Germany keen to boost dark bee numbers and stop the spread of the hybrid honeybee
TL;DR
- An annual 'wedding flight' in Chimay, Belgium, involves 1,000 virgin dark bee queens mating with local males.
- The event aims to conserve the endangered European dark bee (*Apis mellifera mellifera*), the native subspecies of the honeybee in the region.
- Beekeepers collect fertilized queens to establish new colonies in the Netherlands, France, and Germany, spreading the dark bee's genes.
- Hybrid honeybees, imported for higher honey production, have caused significant damage to native dark bee populations.
- The dark bee is more resilient to cold, humidity, and climate changes, and potentially more resistant to diseases and invasive species like Asian hornets.
- Conservationists are also working to restore wild dark bee populations by creating suitable habitats, such as log hives, to supplement farmed populations.
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