Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DOWN UNDER BEEKEEPING => Topic started by: mike888 on September 15, 2018, 01:22:15 am
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Hi, I don't know much about natives so hoping someone can shine some light on what is happening. An old housemate left a hive of natives which for the last several years have had no problems. This last week or so they have been flying around outside of the hive erratically during the middle of the day in a large cluster. Today quite a few of them have started coming into the house so it has become a bit of a problem. They look like they are swarming but it has been going for about 10 days.
I'd appreciate any info on what might be happening.
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Native bees don't swarm as per honey bees.
To repopulate they will over a length of time set up stores of honey and pollen into a new location and only then will a virgin queen be enticed to relocate. The whole process is gradual and no swarming as such occurs.
What you probably seen is fighting from another hive. It isn't uncommon but distressing to watch.
Did you observe any dead bees?
I would have thought any fighting would be over within a day. 10 days, I don't know why.
Alan
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Native bees don't swarm as per honey bees.
To repopulate they will over a length of time set up stores of honey and pollen into a new location and only then will a virgin queen be enticed to relocate. The whole process is gradual and no swarming as such occurs.
What you probably seen is fighting from another hive. It isn't uncommon but distressing to watch.
Did you observe any dead bees?
I would have thought any fighting would be over within a day. 10 days, I don't know why.
Alan
Alan does the homey from these bees taste about the same as our European bees honey?
Thanks,
Phillip
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Mike,
Welcome to Beemaster.
I will be watching this, interesting question.
Jim Altmiller
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Alan does the homey from these bees taste about the same as our European bees honey?
Thanks,
Phillip
The native bees store the honey in propolis pots and therefore the honey is very tangy.
Kev
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Very tangy indeed.
They produce about 1kg a year. The honey has been found to have many health benefits....and is expensive about $ Aus 450 last one i saw for sale.
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Kanga
The native bees store the honey in propolis pots and therefore the honey is very tangy.
Kev
max2
Very tangy indeed.
They produce about 1kg a year. The honey has been found to have many health benefits....and is expensive about $ Aus 450 last one i saw for sale.
That makes plenty sense being stored in propolis would surely give it a tang. Also the health benefits as well. Thank you both for the information..
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I didn't see this thread until today, sorry that I'm late to the party. I'm confused about what kind of bees they are. Does Australia have native honey bees?
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I think they are the stingless ones. Small colonies and honey in small cups.
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Member I do not know much about the Native Honey Bees of Australia. It seems eltalia mentioned these bees a few years back but my memory is fuzzy. Maybe some of our friends will educate us. I have heard more than once that propolis has health benefits. Honey stored in propolis naturally by bees themselves, sounds like something favorably useful and perhaps of extra value.. As Jim stated and I concur; This topic is very interesting to me as well. .
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I think they are the stingless ones. Small colonies and honey in small cups.
Nigel, you and I were posting about the same time. :happy:
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I think they are the stingless ones. Small colonies and honey in small cups.
Oh stingless bees, like they have in Mexico. That's interesting. I'll have to do some looking at them.
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I think they are the stingless ones. Small colonies and honey in small cups.
Oh stingless bees, like they have in Mexico. That's interesting. I'll have to do some looking at them.
There is some good information at the following website which may help answer your questions.
https://www.aussiebee.com.au/australian-stingless-bees.html
Kev
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There is some good information at the following website which may help answer your questions.
https://www.aussiebee.com.au/australian-stingless-bees.html
Kev
Thanks! I'll take a look at that. It looks like there is a lot of good info there.