Professional Beekeepers

What Australian beekeepers can expect of hive sensors

2026-06-04T10:49:56+10:00Lastest Research, Managing your hives, Pollination|

Core beekeeping practices have remained largely unchanged since the development of the movable hive frame in the 1800s. Particularly, manual inspections of the hive contents have remained the primary method for evaluating hive condition and identifying and addressing diseases and pests like mites and beetles. In the last decade however, hive sensors that promise to provide remote data on hive condition have emerged. Many beekeepers remain hesitant to adopt hive sensors in Australia. Our work, sponsored by Hort Innovation and Macquarie University, aimed to determine the needs and expectations of the growing pollination and beekeeping industries regarding the use of hive sensors. We conducted surveys and interviews with amateur and commercial beekeepers to identify the main barriers to the adoption of sensors, and perceptions of their costs and benefits. We also tested a range of hive sensors in our hives at Macquarie University. We were able to determine areas for improvement, usefulness and precision of various sensors. Here are our recommendations to beekeepers and hive sensor manufacturers.  Hive sensors accuracy  [...]

Non-chemical varroa control methods

2025-02-25T16:26:08+11:00Varroa|

June 2022 will surely stay in the minds of many Australian beekeepers, as it drastically changed beekeeping, especially in New South Wales. With the incursion of Varroa destructor (hereafter varroa) in Newcastle, beekeepers must now monitor and find new ways to protect their hives to manage varroa loads. Varroa is the most serious pest of the Western (European) honey bee, feeding on the fat bodies of bee larvae, which have a function similar to the liver in humans. It is difficult to spot the mites with the naked eye, as it is highly adept at concealing itself on adult bees. In other parts of the world, beekeepers have been managing varroa for decades. However, Australia’s beekeeping conditions are unique and [...]

Introduction to Integrated Pest Management for Beekeepers

2023-11-02T16:13:10+11:00Biosecurity, Managing your hives, Pests and diseases, Policy and compliance|

It can be overwhelming to decide how to manage pests and diseases in your honey bee colonies, especially when there is already a long list of things to accomplish in the apiary. However, pests and diseases can do irreversible damage and spread between colonies if ignored–that’s where integrated pest management (IPM) can help. IPM provides the framework for a balanced and effective control plan before an infestation gets out of hand. IPM works on the principle that the presence of a pest or disease in a hive is acceptable as long as it is below the level at which a beekeeper’s operation begins to suffer. Depending on the level of infestation, different treatment types are justified. IPM always begins with [...]

Old comb = a less productive colony

2023-11-02T16:02:05+11:00Managing your hives, Pests and diseases|

Replacing old comb can seem like a time-consuming task, but it will not only decrease the risk of disease and accumulated toxins but significantly increase the productivity of your hive! Hives with combs replaced regularly (every 1-3 years) store significantly more pollen, produce far more honey and rear more worker brood.    Honey bee colonies in the wild  Honey bee colonies in the wild have a natural way of recycling old comb.  On average a colony can survive for about 6 years in the wild (Seeley, 1978). Any wax or honey comb that is left behind is removed and “cleaned up” by wax moths, mice, beetles and other scavengers, leaving an empty cavity free of contaminated old comb for the next [...]

Who is Professional Beekeepers for?

2023-11-02T12:16:45+11:00Agrichemicals, 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|

The Professional Beekeepers Community of Practice has been established to meet the needs of rural and regional Australians for the extension of beekeeping knowledge and to promote collaboration on important issues to commercial beekeeping. In short, we provide expert knowledge for a resilient beekeeping community.  Anyone can be a professional beekeeper. You can be a commercial beekeeper or a recreational beekeeper. To be a professional beekeeper you should: Register your hives Follow the Bee Biosecurity Code of Practice Be trained in the detection of pests and diseases Our articles are written and reviewed by experts in beekeeping and/or research, including beekeepers, researchers, bee biosecurity officers and trainers. We cover a wide range of topics and provide research updates, best practice, [...]

European Foulbrood

2025-02-03T09:04:04+11:00Agrichemicals, Code of Practice, Managing your hives, Nutrition, Pests and diseases|

European foulbrood is a bacterial disease caused by Melissococcus plutonius. It is highly contagious. The brood are infected by food contaminated with the bacterium. The bacterium multiplies and causes damage in the midgut, resulting in the larvae starving to death.  All brood stages are susceptible to infection, but it is most common in larvae. The disease is associated with stress: cool wet weather, poor nutrition, pesticides, and moving colonies. The outer brood combs are more likely to be affected than inner brood combs. In severe cases, adult bees may also be affected. Those that survive to adulthood can appear normal or undersized. The disease is most common in early spring and autumn. It can reduce the productivity of colonies and, [...]

Hygienic behaviour

2020-09-18T13:50:07+10:00Breeding, Managing your hives, Pests and diseases|

For a colony to show hygienic behaviour, there are three things the workers must do. The first is detection: a worker bee must sense that the capped brood is dead or diseased. Secondly, a worker must uncap the cell. The final step is removing the brood from the cell and the colony. Benefits of hygienic behaviour Hygienic behaviour can reduce the spread of American foulbrood (AFB) if infected pupae are removed before the AFB bacteria sporulate; that is, within 9 days of egg hatching. It is unclear if hygienic behaviour assists in the reduction of European foulbrood. Hygienic behaviour is the primary mechanism of resistance against chalkbrood. Again, infected larvae need to be removed before the fungus sporulates. Freeze-killed brood [...]

To feed or not to feed? Part 2. The importance of nutrition to disease

2020-09-18T14:04:37+10:00Managing your hives, Nutrition, Pests and diseases|

Honey bee populations have declined in many parts of the globe, with pests and diseases being a major cause. An Agrifutures Australia project, led by John Roberts at CSIRO, recently investigated the effects of nutrition in autumn on colony pathogen loads of Nosema, Black queen cell virus and Sacbrood virus in late winter in South Australia. Previous work has shown that feeding pollen supplements during winter may increase levels of Nosema in colonies, and that the species of forage available in winter may influence Nosema levels. Therefore, current recommendations are to give colonies good pollen access in autumn to support overwintering and reduce Nosema infection levels.  The current study aimed to test this recommendation by feeding 900g of pollen to [...]

Hive management for Nosema

2020-09-18T13:53:03+10:00Managing your hives, Nutrition, Pests and diseases, Policy and compliance|

Nosemosis is a disease of honey bees caused by the parasites Nosema apis and N. ceranae. Nosemosis often affects adult field bees which can reduce the number of adult bees in the hive that are active and foraging. This causes younger bees to forage at an earlier age, which results in shortened lifespans and lower productivity. Queen bees can also be infected, which reduces their lifespan and egg laying ability.  Video: Trevor Monson of Monson’s Honey and Pollination discusses the effect of Nosema on honey bee colonies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptlDgs8BIas Colonies infected with Nosemosis are more likely to experience population losses and reduced productivity. Visual symptoms of the disease are diarrhoea, which can be observed around the hive entrance or [...]

Summer management

2020-09-18T13:57:24+10:00Code of Practice, Managing your hives|

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 to keep white hives cool than they do for any other colour. For those with only a small number of hives placing foam insulation on top of the lids will help keep them cool Water: make sure there is water available ideally within 200 meters, preferably before you commence using an apiary, as bees may not switch to another water source once they have found one. Bees [...]

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