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Author Topic: Spring Bee Newsletter is out NOW  (Read 3346 times)

Offline max2

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Spring Bee Newsletter is out NOW
« on: August 22, 2017, 12:32:23 am »

Offline PhilK

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Re: Spring Bee Newsletter is out NOW
« Reply #1 on: August 22, 2017, 01:09:15 am »
Why do you put stickies in the sun?

Offline max2

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Re: Spring Bee Newsletter is out NOW
« Reply #2 on: August 22, 2017, 05:11:52 am »

Why do you put stickies in the sun?

The best way to get rid /prevent wax moth. Make sure it is not too hot!! Works for me

Offline eltalia

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Re: Spring Bee Newsletter is out NOW
« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2017, 07:10:38 am »

Why do you put stickies in the sun?

The best way to get rid /prevent wax moth. Make sure it is not too hot!! Works for me

Oh yeah, howsat work for you in italics, Net-Bud?
Little wonder our bee buddies think we Aussies are under mushrooms
when the likes of yourself find Wordpress :-/
I can see it now - hordes of wax moth descending into your lawn locker
whilst you sit on the verandah sucking on a tube telling the Missus..
"Criikey Mabel, you gunna get those stickies down to the hive!".
Meanwhile, the smallcut corned topside boils dry!


Yeah, and I fly with brogla feathers glued to me arms... who needs QANTAS!!


: wry grin:


Bill
 

Offline Brub58

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Re: Spring Bee Newsletter is out NOW
« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2017, 08:36:00 am »
So you do know that is illegal under the new biosecurity regulations, don't you.

Offline 220

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Re: Spring Bee Newsletter is out NOW
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2017, 05:33:34 pm »
So you do know that is illegal under the new biosecurity regulations, don't you.

While we are talking legalities I have just been reading The Australian Honey Bee Industry Code of Practice

Section 3.2
In at least 2 inspections per year (at a minimum of 4 consecutive calendar months apart) at least one hive in each apiary must be examined for the presence of arthropod pests, including Varroa and Tropilaelaps mites, using one of the following methods:
(a) Sugar shake
(b) Alcohol wash
(c) Drone uncapping

Leads me to a couple of questions,
is the code legally binding?
who is regularly checking for varroa and what method do you find the easiest?

Offline max2

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Re: Spring Bee Newsletter is out NOW
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2017, 06:25:52 pm »
brob 58

So you do know that is illegal under the new biosecurity regulations, don't you.

Stickies is probably not the right term.
I put stickies into the hive they cam from for the bees to clean up first.
The frames are dry when I put them out and I have not seen a bee attracted to it. A good idea to put them under a screen.

You are of course correct - exposing any honey for bees to clean-up is illegal and I would never do it. The chance of spreading AFB is too great.

Offline Brub58

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Re: Spring Bee Newsletter is out NOW
« Reply #7 on: August 22, 2017, 06:45:48 pm »
Requirement 7.1 says A beekeeper must not allow a used hive, part of a used hive (including frames, combs, honey or beeswax) or an appliance containing honey to be exposed in a manner or under conditions likely to attract robber bees; including during transportation.

That sounds like putting used frames in the sun is no longer allowed.

Regarding testing for mites, this is the first season t he code is enforced, so a lot of people will have to learn how to do that in the next few weeks.

Bruce.

Offline eltalia

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Re: Spring Bee Newsletter is out NOW
« Reply #8 on: August 22, 2017, 07:42:41 pm »
Yeah Bruce the code didn't just popup as a thought bubble of governance.
As it is with most regs introduced the framework is borne of long held
"good practice" existing as a precursor.. derived from input by the industry.
There are exceptions of course, mostly "thought a good idea at the time"
and subsequently removed.
Hopefully Aussies will adopt the alcohol wash and drone generation as a
new(er) practise, particularly those in the immediate area of sea ports and
most importantly those within cooee of Townsville and Cairns.


Cheers.

Bill

Offline eltalia

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Re: Spring Bee Newsletter is out NOW
« Reply #9 on: August 22, 2017, 08:02:36 pm »
"Leads me to a couple of questions,
is the code legally binding?
who is regularly checking for varroa and what method do you find the easiest?"

It is when you're sprung breaking it, 220... and it will happen as today there
exists a polar shift in Australia into "dobber dialup"... not forgetting the
prolific use of GoPros.
I am young enough to remember the Great Banana Plant Purge for "bunchy top"
of the '60s, and more recently the papaya fruit fly control;
http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2014-07-23/new-fruit-fly-advisory-committee-welcomed/5617116
In a worst case you can expect anyone selling bee products anywhere to be
watched and investigated. Well, maybe not the worst... as in the bunchy top purge
there were officers driving the streets, and with a "Right to Enter" backed up to
your yard and removed every banana plant inclusive of stumps.
And all one could do was weep.

Cheers.

Bill

Offline max2

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Re: Spring Bee Newsletter is out NOW
« Reply #10 on: August 22, 2017, 08:34:57 pm »
Brub 58 wrote:
" Requirement 7.1 says A beekeeper must not allow a used hive, part of a used hive (including frames, combs, honey or beeswax) or an appliance containing honey to be exposed in a manner or under conditions likely to attract robber bees; including during transportation."

I better write something in the next newsletter - thanks for this.
Could post a link to the requirement?

I have never seen a bee on my combs when I put them out - in 40 plus years I can't recall robber bees.

I gather AFB is spreading in coastal areas ( I'm a little inland) - I will check my hives again.

There is not much honey around here. It has been very dry and we had very little of winter.

Offline Brub58

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Re: Spring Bee Newsletter is out NOW
« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2017, 09:08:01 pm »
Max, a copy of the code is at http://beeaware.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Australian-Honey-Bee-Industry-Biosecurity-Code-of-Practice.pdf

It's law in Victoria, but I'm not sure what other states have legislated yet.  Most are in the process.

This is a big change for hobbyists and if they're not getting some guidance through a club I'm not sure they will be ready for it.

3.1 - two full brood inspections per year at least 4 months apart
3.2 - two tests per year for Varroa and Tropilaelaps at least 4 months apart
Section 5 - detailed written records of all activities including the above inspections kept fo 3 years
6.3 - no old comb in swarm traps.  Just new foundation.
7.1 - nothing that has been in a hive can be left exposed

In Vic the two brood and Varroa tests will probably need to be in Oct/Nov and Mar/Apr to meet the 4 months apart requirement.  Other states might be able to spread them a bit more, but you get the idea.

Bruce.



Offline max2

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Re: Spring Bee Newsletter is out NOW
« Reply #12 on: August 22, 2017, 11:42:02 pm »
It's law in Victoria, but I'm not sure what other states have legislated yet.  Most are in the process.

Many thanks for posting this. It is news to me and I do go to a club meet.

This is a big change for hobbyists and if they're not getting some guidance through a club I'm not sure they will be ready for it.

3.1 - two full brood inspections per year at least 4 months apart

!!!!I have been doing this for a long time.

3.2 - two tests per year for Varroa and Tropilaelaps at least 4 months apart

!!!!!This is an interesting one - do they know something we don't?

Section 5 - detailed written records of all activities including the above inspections kept fo 3 years

!!!!!The average age of beekeepers around here is between 65 and death! Includes me! Many of them don't use a computer. I believe there are less than 5 inspectors between Brisbane and Cairns - some part-time. How will they deal with this extra load of work?


6.3 - no old comb in swarm traps.  Just new foundation.

!!!!I have only used new comb in my traps plus Lemon Grass oil - a couple of drops > I'm sure old combs would work better.

7.1 - nothing that has been in a hive can be left exposed

In Vic the two brood and Varroa tests will probably need to be in Oct/Nov and Mar/Apr to meet the 4 months apart requirement.  Other states might be able to spread them a bit more, but you get the idea.

!!!Yes, here in Qld we could spread them a bit more

Interesting times ahead.
The price of honey will have to go up:)


Offline eltalia

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Re: Spring Bee Newsletter is out NOW
« Reply #13 on: August 23, 2017, 06:32:08 am »
"the average age of beekeepers around here is between 65 and death! "
 
The demographic is somewhat broader between Townsville and Cooktown.
No insight as to why it is I have run into those in mid 30s to early 50s other than population drift
from "the big smoke". Particularly among the Trigona devotees the numbers of women taking
more than a passing interest is encouraging.

As I use freshly drawn foundationless comb in my traps I wonder where that fits as is having
never been capped sets it apart from "old comb". If the separation is about EFB/PMS spread then
I won't lose any sleep taking starter comb from healthy colonies, either way - old or new.
If all test at least once per year - preferably in Spring during drone builds - I cannot see a problem
until we get a positive ID somewhere in the Country.
When that happens we are into a whole new ballgame.

Cheers.

Bill