Professor Jacques J.M. van Alphen is an evolutionary ecologist and entomologist renowned for his ground-breaking research on insect behaviour, parasitism, and host-parasite interactions. With academic posts at Leiden University and the University of Montpellier, he has contributed extensively to the fields of behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology.
A leading voice in sustainable apiculture, Professor van Alphen is the author of Honeybees: A Natural and Less Natural History, a compelling exploration of the biology and evolutionary pressures shaping honey bee behaviour – both in the wild and under human influence. The book challenges conventional practices and encourages a return to ecological and evolutionary principles in beekeeping.
In his apicultural work, van Alphen focuses on natural selection as the foundation for building Varroa-resistant honey bee populations. Drawing from case studies in South America, South Africa, and unmanaged European populations, he demonstrates how wild colonies have evolved resistance to Varroa destructor through natural selection – without chemical treatments or intensive breeding.
Speaking at the National Honey Show 2024, van Alphen argued that efforts to manage Varroa should shift away from short-term chemical and hybridization strategies and toward the support of locally adapted, minimally managed populations, particularly of the native Apis mellifera mellifera. His evolutionary perspective aligns with the goals of conservation projects across Europe, including the B4 Project and the wider native bee movement.
Through his teaching, research, public speaking, and writing, Professor Jacques van Alphen continues to inspire both scientists and beekeepers to see honey bees not as tools of production, but as evolved organisms best understood through the lens of natural history and evolutionary resilience.