François Huber

François Huber, a pioneering figure in the scientific understanding of honey bees, was a Swiss entomologist who lived from 1750 to 1831. Despite losing his vision at a young age, Huber's remarkable achievements in the field of bee research, known as melittology, were made possible through the assistance of dedicated collaborators.

Here's a summary of what we know about François Huber:

• Bee Expertise: Huber's groundbreaking work laid the foundation for modern scientific knowledge about honey bees.
• The "Huber Hive": He is credited with developing the innovative "leaf hive" or "Huber hive," which allowed for observing bee colonies without disrupting their natural environment.
• Key Discoveries: Through his observations, Huber unraveled mysteries concerning queen bee reproduction, swarming behavior, and comb construction.
• Collaborative Research: Despite being blind, Huber's research thrived due to the invaluable help of his wife, Marie Aimée Lullin, and his assistant, François Burnens.
• Published Works: His significant findings were documented in "Nouvelles Observations sur les Abeilles" (New Observations on Bees), first published in 1792 with a second edition including further discoveries in 1814.

Huber's contributions continue to influence our understanding and practices related to beekeeping today.