Published - 11 January 2023 By Nadine Chapman (Sydney University) and Kim Bunter (Animal Genetics & Breeding Unit, University of New England) What makes an effective target for selection There are countless traits that beekeepers may be interested in selecting for, however, not all these traits are actually effective targets for selection. There are 6 … Read More breeding, evaluation, heritability, queen bees, varroa resistance Breeding, Plan Bee
Published - 22 December 2022 By Nadine Chapman and Sam Walkom Plan Bee evaluations: what colonies, traits, and when? Plan Bee is Australia’s honey bee genetic improvement program. Participating bee breeders will perform colony evaluations and submit the data to the database. Once there is … Read More bee biosecurity code of practice, breeding, breeding objective, colony inspection, disease, EBV, pest, Plan bee, traits Breeding, Code of Practice, Pests and diseases, Plan Bee, Uncategorized
Published - 20 December 2022 By Elizabeth Frost and Nadine Chapman What is the size of Australia’s queen bee industry? A great beekeeping business depends on great colonies, and having great colonies depends on having queens. Therefore, you could view queen breeders as the backbone … Read More breeding, export market, package bees, queen bees, queen prices, queens Plan Bee
Published - 9 December 2022 By Nadine Chapman, University of Sydney Update on Plan Bee genetic testing Free genetic testing is being offered to Australian queen bee breeders. We sincerely thank everyone who has responded by providing samples or requested assistance to collect … Read More breeding, colony evaluations, DNA, genetic testing, Plan bee, queen bees Breeding, Genetics, Plan Bee
Published - 24 November 2022 By Rod Bourke, NSW Department of Primary Industries Managing hives to minimise damage from small hive beetles This past season has seen a large increase in the numbers of small hive beetle (SHB) observed within beehives. Unfortunately, SHB is here to stay … Read More American foulbrood, pests and disease, small hive beetles, swarming Biosecurity, Managing your hives, Pests and diseases
Published - 18 November 2022 By Nadine Chapman, University of Sydney 2021 Plan Bee survey In 2021, 109 beekeepers responded to a survey about queen replacement strategies, satisfaction with purchased queens, trait desirability, and attitudes to the Plan Bee honey … Read More breeding objective, Plan bee, queen bees, traits Breeding, Pests and diseases, Plan Bee, Pollination
Published - 8 November 2022 By Erica Mo, University of Sydney Where do we find bees? Bees are important pollinators, they provide an essential service required for both the ecosystem and humans as several food crops rely on insect pollination. Particular … Read More bee distribution, climate change, honey bees, native bees, wild bees Pollination
Published - 4 November 2022 By Dr. Mary Whitehouse, NSW Department of Primary Industries Does Australia have Varroa mite predators? Do our bees have useful associates that attack Varroa mites? – you can help. Above: A honey bee next to an adult Chelifer cancroides (pseudoscorpion). Image … Read More biosecurity, integrated pests management, managing your hives, pest management, pests and diseases, pseudoscorpion, varroa Biosecurity, Managing your hives, Pests and diseases
Published - 26 October 2022 By Nadine Chapman, University of Sydney Plan Bee queen distribution Tocal queens Plan Bee established a research and development population at Tocal Agricultural College. Queens were donated by Australian bee breeders and bees by NSW beekeepers … Read More breeding, breeding objective, EBV, Plan bee, queen bees, Tocal Plan Bee
Published - 11 October 2022 By Nadine Chapman, University of Sydney What does Plan Bee need to produce EBVs? Plan Bee is Australia’s honey bee genetic improvement program. This will provide bee breeders with Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), a tool to aid with the … Read More breeding, EBV, pedigree, phenotype, Plan bee, queens, traits Breeding, Plan Bee
Published - 30 September 2022 By Kenya Fernandes, University of Sydney How honey contributes to bee and hive health Honeybees have an amazing ability to process and store nectar in the form of honey, which plays a fundamental role in maintaining colony health. Honey … Read More antimicrobial, bee health, ecology, honey, nutrition Honey, Nutrition
Published - 2 September 2022 By Kenya Fernandes, University of Sydney The many antimicrobial components of honey Antimicrobial components of honey. Icon Credit: Flaticon Interest in the antimicrobial activity of honey continues to grow. Honey is not a generic substance, and rather there … Read More antimicrobial, honey, hydrogen peroxide, MGO Honey