Managing your hives Archives - Professional Beekeepers

published - 10 January 2020
By Elizabeth Frost, NSW Department of Primary Industries

Mental health for beekeepers

Are you okay?
Are your bees okay?
Would you like someone to speak to about how you’re going?
When times get tough, it’s normal to need support, from your family, social network, GP or mental health professional.
As a beekeeper you often work remotely, but you are never alone.
Beyond Blue support service …
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agriculture, drought, fire, mental health

Managing your hives

published - 13 December 2019
By Tom Gillard

Controlled Breeding: Artificial Insemination of Queen Bees

The unique mating system of honey bees makes it incredibly difficult for beekeepers to accurately determine the fathers of their colonies. Virgin queens mate with approximately 30 drones at sites called Drone Congregation Areas (DCAs), which are open areas surrounded by trees. Drones fly from around 3.75km radius from the …
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artificial insemination, breeding, genetics, queen bees

Managing your hives

published - 5 December 2019
By Nadine Chapman

Summer management

It’s getting hot hot hot, and so are your bees! Extreme heat can melt beeswax, kill brood or even the entire colony.
Keep your colonies cool
Site location: ideally your site will provide some shade during the hottest part of the day, but not early morning
Hive: bees require less effort and energy …
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apiary location, hive management, summer, ventilation

Managing your hives

published - 4 December 2019
By Nadine Chapman

Screened bottom boards

Varroa has not yet established in Australia. In the advent that it does establish, beekeepers need to be aware of the available control methods. Chemical treatments have several drawbacks. Miticide residues have been reported in honey and bees wax, mites can become immune to the miticides, and their use prevents …
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hive management, screened bottom boards, varroa

Honey, Managing your hives, Pests and diseases

published - 12 November 2019
By Dr Doug Somerville

Comb honey production

The creation of comb honey is an art form in the field of beekeeping. Honey in the comb is seen by the general consumer as something ‘pure’ and ‘natural’. Invariably this is true, as there has been little or nothing done to the product from the hive to the consumer. …
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chunk honey, comb honey, comb storage, honey

Honey, Managing your hives

published - 9 November 2019
By Elizabeth Frost, NSW Department of Primary Industries

What is VSH? Varroa sensitive hygiene trait

The Varroa destructor mite is a major honey bee pest throughout most of the world. Australia is the only major beekeeping country in the world to be free of the parasite. Varroa mites feed on the fat body of adult bees and developing bee larvae and reproduce under capped cells …
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biosecurity, breeding, varroa, VSH

Managing your hives, Pests and diseases

published - 28 October 2019
By Liz Frost, Dr Doug Somerville

“Honey and Pollen Flora of South-Eastern Australia” – read all about it

Honey and Pollen Flora of South-Eastern Australia is a long-awaited publication written by Dr. Doug Somerville, Technical Specialist, Bees with the NSW Department of Primary Industries. This book focuses on the value of key plants to nectar-feeding animals in Australia with particular emphasis on honey bee nutritional requirements. Successful beekeepers …
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acacia, angophora, corymbia, eucalyptus, honey, leatherwood, pollen

Beekeeping on public land, Honey, Managing your hives, Pollination

published - 17 October 2019
By Nadine Chapman

Why we need to breed better bees

More honey More money
“If you just keep using the same bees as we’ve got today, into the future, for people to make a living they are going to have to be getting more money for the honey or getting paid more for the pollination. Whereas if we improve them, people …
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Managing your hives

published - 1 October 2019
By Nadine Chapman

Propolis: an emerging market

Propolis is produced by honey bees from saliva, beeswax and plant exudes. Propolis has antibacterial properties and can serve as an ‘external’ immune system for the colony, helping to prevent microbial or fungal growth in the hive. Honey bees also use it to plug holes and ‘cement’ honey frames to …
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bee products, propolis, value adding

Managing your hives

published - 19 September 2019
By Nadine Chapman

Fire safety for beekeepers

Smoke causes bees to stop guarding the entrance to the colony, move inside and gorge on honey. Just like humans, bees are easier to deal with when they have full bellies. The smoke also masks the smell of alarm pheromone. The use of a smoker is necessary to work responsibly …
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fire, hive management, safety, smoker

Managing your hives, Policy and compliance