Beekeeping in Urban areas. Backyard beekeeping is fun and rewarding. In urban areas, it has the potential to be a nuisance to your neighbours. You may love your bees, but it does not mean that your neighbours love bees. In Victoria there is a "Code of Practice" for beekeeping in urban areas. I thought it might be helpful to apply some of the same ideas to beekeeping in Adelaide, South Australia. General Points for Urban Beekeeping Keeping bees in urban areas requires good management skills — otherwise, the bees can have a negative impact on those who live close by. Hives are best placed in a ..read more

Brother Adam, a Benedictine monk, left an enduring impact on beekeeping with his work on Buckfast Queen bees. His dedication and innovation have inspired modern beekeeping practices, making the Buckfast bees a symbol of resilience and productivity. Brother Adam, born Karl Kehrle in 1898, joined Buckfast Abbey in 1910, where his passion for beekeeping flourished. Troubled by the Isle of Wight disease's devastation, he embarked on a mission to create a hybrid bee with desirable traits. Through selective breeding and genetic manipulation, he developed the Buckfast Queen bees known for their gentl ..read more

We are currently taking an early winter break (southern hemisphere). All our beehives are wintered down and the last round of varroa mite surveillance for PIRSA has been completed. We like caravanning, so we are off to the Riverland. Then on to the Flinders Ranges and an outback tour further north. Next month we will publish our 2023 Spring beekeeping education program. Look out for it! All the best with your bees. Phil Beekeeping Education. Gain knowledge Develop skills Share experiences Bite size, affordable and practical ..read more

Winter is usually the slowest beekeeping season as there is little to do. Also, opening hives in winter can chill the brood and have a negative effect. June is the month of the year's shortest days, with the Queen's egg production at a minimum, only maintaining small bee numbers. So check your hive from the outside and keep the entrance clear of weeds and other obstacles. Winter is the season to prepare boxes, frames and equipment for next season. 1. Warmth. Your hive should be kept as warm as possible over winter. Keep your hive in full sun if possible, protected from wind and frost. In addi ..read more

What is happening in the beehive in December? Summer Solstice December 21 is nearly here. With days of extended daylight, your Queen’s egg production is at a peak. She is maintaining a large brood nest with a growing number of worker bees. Swarms - Decreasing The likelihood of swarms starts to decrease as the bees slow in raising queen cells in preparation for swarming. Inspect hives in 3-week intervals for health issues. Plan Ahead to Requeen Over Summer. Plan to requeen if necessary. As a general guide, commercial beekeepers requeen annually, and recreational beekeepers requeen every two ye ..read more

Bee Swarms Beekeepers, new or experienced, enjoy the thrill of catching swarms. Swarm season can start as early as August and conclude around Christmas (Southern Hemisphere). Seeing the swarm settling down in your hive box is exhilarating. It's one of the sweetest times in beekeeping. Then bee swarm fever sets in. What are the symptoms of bee swarm fever? The beekeeper with the fever always carries their bee suit and a spare hive box in the car. Their phone is close at hand for the swarm call out. They are willing to drop everything to catch the next swarm before it moves on. There is no cure ..read more

What is happening in your beehive in January? The queen’s egg production is at its peak, maintaining a large brood nest and bee numbers. The numerical strength of your hive will peak over Summer. Inspect hives every three weeks for health issues. You can collect a honey surplus if available. Only if required, provide bees with space to build more wax comb and collect nectar (add a super). Watch weather forecasts for heat waves. Full shade is recommended during heat waves Feed your bees as required. It might seem strange to talk about feeding bees in Summer, but honey production has fluctuated ..read more

Each year, approximately 20000 Queen bees are posted to South Australian beekeepers from New South Wales Queen producers. The Varroa incursion in Newcastle has disrupted the beekeeping community. Currently, SA borders are closed to all bees, including Queen bees. However, we are not sure how long this will last. Disruptions. Disruptions like Varroa are challenging to predict and make you think about being more vigilant with Varroa surveillance and self-reliant with Queen bees. Varroa Awareness All efforts are focused on the eradication of Varroa mites in Australia. The first 100 days of the i ..read more

In the Beehive. The days are getting longer with the Queen's egg production increasing, and the brood nest is slowly growing. The result is an increasing colony in preparation for Spring. The bees might start raising drones and queen cells in preparation for swarming. When weather permits, inspect hives for health issues. Include Varroa mite surveillance by using the alcohol wash method. The ideal day for a hive inspection is 18 degrees and no wind. Don't open the hive for your inspection of frames during cold weather. It is still winter, therefore checking hives from the outside by lifting f ..read more

Bee part of the "Fight the Mite" movement! What can I do in SA❓ 1️⃣ Learn how to do the Alcohol Wash method for detecting varroa mite on bees. 2️⃣ Buy or make your own kit. 3️⃣ At your next inspection (weather permitting) do the Alcohol Wash. 4️⃣ If you find anything suspicious ring the Bee Biosecurity Officer (BBO) in PIRSA. 5️⃣ Follow the BBO's instructions. ✅A good Australian video demonstrating the Alcohol Wash method and how to make your own Alcohol Wash kit. https://youtu.be/Ieq1-rMCWfc ..read more