Published - 11 March 2022 By Nadine Chapman, University of Sydney To understand our bees we must understand our plants In Australia, through the Plan Bee program, we are embarking on a journey to implement estimated breeding values to assist in genetic selection. This process … Read More breeding, nutrition, plants Breeding, Managing your hives, Nutrition, Pests and diseases, Plan Bee, Pollination
Published - 18 February 2022 By Nadine Chapman, University of Sydney Uncapping: a defence against Varroa Varroa is an external mite that feeds on both brood and adult bees. When it feeds, it spreads viruses. The combined effects of predation and … Read More breeding, brood disease, Plan bee, uncapping, varroa Breeding, Pests and diseases
Published - 10 November 2021 By Rod Bourke, NSW DPI Australian beekeepers need to regularly check for exotic mites Australian honey industry at risk from exotic mites The majority of Australian beekeepers are completely unskilled and unprepared should mites arrive to our shores and start … Read More alcohol wash, biosecurity, hive inspections, sugar shake, Tropilaelaps, varroa Biosecurity, Code of Practice, Managing your hives, Pests and diseases, Policy and compliance
Published - 27 September 2021 By Kelly Lees, NSW DPI One hive or too many to count: Why pest and disease training matters A experienced beekeeper (20 years of keeping bees) attending training in honey bee biosecurity described to the class how after inspecting some hives and discovering … Read More American foulbrood, biosecurity, disease, European foulbrood, training Biosecurity, Code of Practice, Managing your hives, Pests and diseases, Policy and compliance, Training & resources
Published - 27 August 2021 By John Roberts Safe imports of new bee genetics into Australia Queen bee breeders are the backbone of the honey bee industry. They breed queens from the best performing stock so that beekeepers can have productive … Read More Africanised bees, biosecurity, breeding, import, mites, quarantine, varroa, virus Biosecurity, Breeding, Genetics, Pests and diseases, Policy and compliance
Published - 26 August 2021 By Nadine Chapman, University of Sydney Should we breed crop-specific bees? As part of the Plan Bee program, research has been undertaken to determine the feasibility of breeding bees for specific crops. Previous research has attempted to … Read More avocado, breeding, Plan bee, pollination Breeding, Nutrition, Pests and diseases, Plan Bee, Pollination
Published - 9 August 2021 By Nadine Chapman, University of Sydney Tropilaelaps mites There are at least four species of Tropilaelaps mites, all native to Asia. Two species are able to parasitize the worker and drone brood of … Read More brood disease, mites, pests, Tropilaelaps, varroa Biosecurity, Pests and diseases
Published - 20 July 2021 By Nadine Chapman, University of Sydney Tracheal mite The tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi) lives in the trachea (breathing tubes) of adult bees. Mature female mites are attracted to young adult bees (less than … Read More acarapis, mites, pests, tracheal mite Pests and diseases
Published - 24 June 2021 By Professional Beekeepers CoP Professional Beekeepers Community of Practice “ExtensionAUS Professional Beekeepers” provides the most current, relevant and accurate information on research, best beekeeping practices, hot topics and business solutions for the Australian beekeeping … Read More Agrichemicals, Beekeeping on public land, Biosecurity, Breeding, Code of Practice, Disaster relief, Genetics, Honey, Managing your hives, Nutrition, Pests and diseases, Plan Bee, Policy and compliance, Pollination, Registration, Training & resources
Published - 4 June 2021 By Théotime Colin (University of Sydney) Varroa, the greatest threat to Australian honey bees What is the varroa mite and what does it do? Varroa destructor is a small mite that parasitises honey bees, transmitting harmful diseases and ultimately killing … Read More mites, varroa Managing your hives, Pests and diseases
Published - 5 March 2021 By Nadine Chapman Hive inspections Under the Australian honey bee industry biosecurity code of practice beekeepers are required to inspect their hives at least twice per year and to keep … Read More American foulbrood, biosecurity, code of practise, hive inspections, hive movements, mites, records, varroa Biosecurity, Code of Practice, Managing your hives, Pests and diseases, Policy and compliance, Registration, Training & resources
Published - 19 February 2021 By Nadine Chapman Large African hive beetle There are two species of large African hive beetle a) Oplostomus fuligineus (Photo courtesy B Oldroyd) and b) Oplostomus haroldi (Photo courtesy M Allsopp) The large … Read More large African hive beetle, pests and disease Biosecurity, Pests and diseases