Australian Beekeeping Guide © 2014 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-74254-715-2 ISSN 1440-6845 Australian Beekeeping Guide Publication No. 14/098 Project No. PRJ-007664 The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication. This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. However, wide dissemination is encouraged. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to RIRDC Communications on phone 02 6271 4100. Project Manager and Lead Author Russell Goodman Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (Victoria). Private Bag 15 Ferntree Gully Delivery Centre VIC 3156 Phone: 03 9210 9324 Fax: 03 9210 3521 Email: [email protected] The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 2, 15 National Circuit Barton ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 Kingston ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6271 4100 Fax: 02 6271 4199 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Electronically published by RIRDC in January 2015 Print-on-demand by Union Offset Printing, Canberra at www.rirdc.gov.au or phone 1300 634 313 Contents Foreword v Preface vi 1. Introduction to the honey bee 1 Members of the honey bee colony 2 Caste differentiation 4 Life-cycle of bee 4 Workers 5 Worker bee anatomy 6 Pheromones 8 Seasonal size of colonies 8 2. The hive and its components 9 The hive 9 Boxes 9 Bottom boards 10 Hive covers 11 Hive mat 11 Protecting hive components 12 Branding hive components 12 Entrance closures 12 Frames 12 Wiring frames 14 Comb foundation 15 Embedding wire 15 Plastic frames and foundation 16 Queen excluder 16 Hive fastener 17 3. Handling bees and beekeeping safety 18 Bee stings 18 Personal protective equipment 18 Equipment 20 The smoker and safe operation 20 How to handle frames and combs 22 Examining the hive 23 Ideal conditions for examining the hive 24 Safety and beekeeping operations 25 4. How to get bees and increase numbers of colonies 26 Established bee colonies 26 Nucleus colonies 26 Package bees 27 Catching honey bee swarms 27 Increasing the number of colonies 29 Secondhand hive components and empty hives 30 5. Apiary sites and flora 31 Winter site 31 Summer site 32 Private land sites 32 Public land apiary sites 32 Nectar and pollen flora 33 Nectar fermentation 34 Pests that affect flora 34 Hive stocking rates 35 Drifting bees and placement of hives 35 Fire Precautions 35 Identification of apiaries 36 6. Spring management 37 Stores and feeding bees 37 Queens 39 Drone layer queen 40 Laying workers 40 Robber bees 40 Comb replacement 41 Adding a super to a single box hive 41 Swarming 41 Signs of swarming 42 Causes of swarming 42 Reducing the impulse to swarm 43 Division of colonies or artificial swarming 44 Uniting colonies and splits 45 7. Summer operations 47 Preparing hives for transport 47 Transport of hives 47 Moving bees with open entrances 48 Loading bees 49 Moving bees short distances 50 Water for bees 50 Bees hanging out 52 Preparing bees for extreme heat 53 Adding a super for honey production 54 Harvesting honey 54 Removal of bees from honey combs 55 Comb Honey 56 8. Extracting honey 57 Uncapping the comb 57 Honey extractors 59 Processing the honey crop 61 Containers for honey 61 Legal obligations when selling honey 62 Separating cappings and honey 62 Further notes for sideline beekeepers 63 ii Australian Beekeeping Guide 9. Winter management 66 Locality 66 Stores 66 Pollen 67 Winter cluster and space adjustment 67 Hive mats, entrances and moisture 68 Other winter tasks 69 10. Honey 70 How bees make honey 70 Composition of honey 71 Viscosity of honey 71 Granulation of honey 71 Creamed honey 71 Effect of heat on honey 71 Filtration 71 Packaging 72 Honey standard 72 11. Beeswax 73 Properties of beeswax 73 Sources of beeswax 73 Wax moth and small hive beetle 74 Refining wax other than brood combs 74 Solar beeswax melter 75 Uses of beeswax 75 12. Requeening colonies and rearing queen bees 76 Requeening colonies 76 Finding a queen 77 Introducing queens in mailing cages 78 Introducing a queen by uniting colonies 79 Queen rearing 79 Raising queens 80 13. Brood diseases of bees 82 American foulbrood (AFB) 82 European foulbrood disease (EFB) 88 Sacbrood 90 Chalkbrood 91 Stonebrood 92 14. Diseases of adult bees 94 Nosema disease 94 Other adult bee diseases 96 Diagnosis of adult bee disease 97 15. Pests and enemies of bees 98 Wax moth 98 Damage caused by wax moths 99 Control of wax moth 100 Small hive beetle 100 Ants 103 Australian Beekeeping Guide iii Other insects and hive visitors 104 Birds 104 Mice 105 European Wasp 105 16. Parasites of honey bees 107 Varroa mite 107 Braula fly 110 Honey bee tracheal mite 110 Tropilaelaps mite 111 Mellitiphis mite 111 Comparative diagnosis 112 17. Quick problem solving table 113 18. Honey bee pollination 118 Colony stocking rates 119 Preparation of colonies for pollination 120 Pollination contracts 121 19. Legal 124 Registration as a beekeeper 124 Branding hives 124 Disposal of hives 124 Moveable frame hives 124 Notification of bee diseases and pests 125 Exposure of bees to infected hives and equipment 125 Access of bees to honey 125 Interstate movement of bees and used equipment 125 Chemical use and records 125 Codes of practice 126 Packing and selling honey 126 Honey levy 126 Water for bees 126 Smokers and fire 126 Horticultural areas and local laws 126 20. Additional information 127 Beekeeper associations and clubs 127 Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) 127 State and Territory Departments of Primary Industries (or agriculture) 127 Beekeeping journals 127 Books 128 Online publications 128 Glossary 129 Acknowledgements 131 Index 132 iv Australian Beekeeping Guide Foreword Australia’s honey bee and pollination industries make a fundamental contribution to the Australian economy and way of life. Healthy honey bee colonies are necessary for the pollination and economic viability of honey bee dependant horticultural and seed crops. In addition to commercial and sideline beekeeping enterprises, thousands of hobby beekeepers throughout Australia gain considerable recreational pleasure by keeping honey bee colonies. The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation invests in research and development that is adopted and assists rural industries to be productive, profitable and sustainable. The Corporation seeks to increase knowledge that fosters sustainable, productive new and established rural industries and furthers understanding of national rural issues through research and development in government-industry partnership. The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation’s Honey Bee and Pollination R&D Program aims to support research, development and extension that will secure a productive, sustainable and more profitable Australian beekeeping industry and secure the pollination of Australian horticultural and agricultural crops. The Australian honey bee and pollination industries face a number of significant and economic challenges, including several biosecurity threats. These include exotic honey bee parasitic mites that occur in neighbouring countries. Their establishment in Australia could put at risk the supply of bee colonies for pollination of crops. This book brings together available basic information about the craft of keeping bees and honey bee biosecurity. It will provide a strong platform for beginner beekeepers to grow their hobby and provide a useful foundation for beekeepers contemplating beekeeping as a sideline or full-time commercial enterprise. RIRDC funding for the production of this book was provided from industry revenue which is matched by funds provided by the Australian Government. Funds were also provided by the Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. This book is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 2000 research publications and forms part of our Honeybee R&D program, which aims to improve the productivity and profitability of the Australian beekeeping industry. Most of RIRDC’s publications are available for viewing, free downloading or purchasing online at www.rirdc.gov.au. Purchases can also be made by phoning 1300 634 313. Craig Burns Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Australian Beekeeping Guide v Preface The first successful introduction of European honey bees (Apis mellifera) into Australia occurred in Sydney in 1822. From that small beginning, there are now over 10,790 registered beekeepers and approximately 563,700 hives kept throughout Australia. Honey bees are kept for the production of honey and beeswax, but most importantly for pollination of honey bee dependant horticultural and seed crops.