Odd Acres Apiary
Italian Queen Bees
Italian Queen Bees
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We produce Italian queens from our own breeder stock raised in our apiaries at Carwoola and Numeralla, NSW.
We are progressing our lines of queens, aiming for locally adapted bees that perform well in cool climates. Occasionally, the queens are more of a golden Cordovan colour; other times, they have the stripes that are typical of Italian queens.
These queens are often oversubscribed and sometimes you might be waiting a while before your order is fulfilled. Best to get in early and order in advance if you can.
Our queens are not banked. They head a colony at our mating yard until they are sold.
When purchased, our queens are marked and provided in a JZBZ enclosure with attendant bees and fondant. All our queens are shipped on Monday via Australia Post Express Parcel Post to reach you as quickly as possible.
Our new season Italian Queen bees are usually available from early November of each year.
Product Questions
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When should I expect my queen bees, and how long does it take to deliver them?
We send our queen bees using Australia Post Express Satchel, with delivery to anywhere in Australia within 3-4 days - except Western Australia and Tasmania who don't allow the import of live bees.
To ensure bees are not sitting in the Australia Post sorting rooms over the weekend, we visit a major parcel centre in Canberra and mail our bees to you on a Monday. When they are on the way we will email you the tracking number so you can promptly collect your queens when they arrive.
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Should I have bees delivered to my home or pick them up from the Post Office?
We recommend you collect your queen bees from Australia Post. They usually arrive in the morning, and you can collect them early in the day and prepare them for transfer to their intended colonies. If you elect to have them delivered to your home address, we suggest you be home that day to receive them and take them inside immediately. Remember, home delivery may have your bees bouncing around in a delivery van and then left on the porch in full sun - which should be avoided if possible.
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What happens if my bees arrive dead?
Queen bees rarely arrive dead. We provide adequate food (fondant) and about 6-8 companion bees in each cage to care for the queen. Bees seem to be quite tolerant of being in the post for up to a week, and Australia Post has processes and procedures for the care and delivery of live animals. However, if your bees are dead, please contact us describing your problem. We will aim to respond to you within 24 hours.
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How should I care for my queen bee when it arrives?
When your bees arrive, please place them in a dark, draft-free location, away from chemicals, at a room temperature of at least 20 degrees Celsius. Place a drop of tap water on the cage wire enclosure so the nurse bees can keep the queen and themselves hydrated.