Drones
Introduction I’ve been putting some content together for the Australian Bee Observation Network (ABON), a project at the ANU Bee Lab that aims to collect data on the impact of feral genetic diversity from Varroa as it spreads throughout Australia. The goals of ABON are: collect genetic data f
Re-Queening – Canberra Region Beekeepers
We are affiliated with the Canberra Region Beekeepers. Recently, we supported the re-queening of their club apiary. Why Re-Queen Whether to re-queen honey bee colonies is nearly always a point of contention; this need not be the case. Instead, why not ask: ‘Why do you keep bees?’ I am
AQBBA March 2024 Newsletter
I write the regular newsletter for the Australian Queen Bee Breeders Association (AQBBA). I have shared the March 2024 issue here. If you are interested in joining the AQBBA, you can reach the web-site here. Membership is $50.00 per year. There is a lot going on in the queen bee breeding industry so
To Feed, or Not to Feed?
Today’s post is motivated by the number of recreational beekeepers contacting me to discuss whether and when to feed their bees. In the general to-and-fro across social media, a few beekeepers are committed to not feeding their bees. In their eyes, it is unnatural, perpetuates weak genes and d
End of the Season
Well, that’s it for the year. Our apiary is located on the western side of the coastal range, about 900m above sea level, so it starts getting cold in March. It’s time to assess the apiaries and see which hives need compacting for Winter – that’s another post altogether. This
AQBBA December 2023 Newsletter
I write the regular newsletter for the Australian Queen Bee Breeders Association (AQBBA). I thought I would share the December 2023 issue here. If you are interested in joining the AQBBA, you can reach the web-site here. Membership is from $50.00 per year. There is a lot going on in the bee industry
The Swarm Queen, Part 2 – The Rise of the Drone King
In our previous blog, The Swarm Queen – Part 1, we discussed how we would catch swarms to study the behaviours and traits of wild bees in and around our apiaries. As queen bee breeders, we are interested in understanding the characteristics of the wild bees – whether they have predominan