There is recent emergence of young and amateur beekeepers across Australia. In example, did you know that there is a beekeeping club for children? Yes, that’s right there is. Anita Long, previously a hairdresser turned apiarist started the Tasmania Junior Beekeepers that has over 80 members. The club is aimed to inspire the future of…

Queen management techniques to delay and deter swarming. In our second post on preventing spring bee swarms, we look at three queen management techniques. Remember, swarming is natural and all techniques technically only postpone swarming. However, done right, you can postpone until the swarming season has passed. You will need to combine a variety of…

Reducing congestion in the hive is essential to minimise the risk of swarming.  Responsible beekeeping practices include swarm management and prevention. In some places, it’s also a legal requirement! Approaches to reduce the impulse to swarm fall under two broad categories: Reducing congestion in the hive and queen management techniques. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee…

What are the Signs a Hive is Going to Swarm? As Perfect Bee notes, a bee swarm is often viewed as counter-productive for the beekeeper when honey is the goal. However, swarming is in fact a sign that the colony is healthy and flourishing. So what are the signs a hive is going to swarm?…

It’s Swarm Season! It’s a common sight all across Australia as soon as sunny spring weather hits – bee swarms. A buzzing, brown cloud of wayward honey bees moving en masse, clinging to each other. Then they settle on whatever temporary foothold they can find while the scout bees search for a new home. Beekeeping…

What is spring management and what does it mean for you and your beehive? Spring has sprung and you – and your bees – are about to get very busy. Good spring management practices are essential. Here’s an overview of what will keep the average beekeeper busy in spring.  Regular Hive Inspections Are Key to…

It’s spring, and you or someone you know may be thinking about keeping bees for the first time. And with swarming season upon us, you may be lucky enough to have some bees drop into your own backyard. These will be in need of a new, permanent home. Some familiarity with the ins and outs…

Identifying and managing European Foulbrood in a Beehive A European Foulbrood (EFB) infection may show no visible signs at times, however, sudden outbreaks often occur when the honey bee colony is under stress. Identifying European Foulbrood (EFB) Brood combs should be thoroughly examined for EFB at least twice a year, preferably in spring and in…

European Foulbrood (EFB) is less widespread in Australia than its American counterpart, but it can be a big problem for beekeepers. European Foulbrood is not present here in Western Australia. But our Eastern States counterparts may be all too familiar with this nasty brood disease. Particularly in Victoria and southern New South Wales, a severe…

Why beekeepers need to get ready for the spring build-up now Spring is a key season in the annual beekeeping calendar. It’s that time of year when the colony quickly builds numbers, i.e. the spring build-up. It’s also a time of vulnerability. How your beehive fares over the spring will greatly impact your honey crop…