CSIRO have announced a program to improve our understanding of the behaviour of honeybees. The Global Initiative for Honeybee Health is “an international collaboration of researchers, beekeepers, farmers, industry and technology companies set up to research the threats to bee health in order to better understand bee colony collapse and find solutions that will help secure crop pollination.”… Continue Reading
This standard has been developed in response to the plethora of different Langstroth beehive parts in use in Tasmania all claiming to be ‘standard’ but often proving to have compatibility problems one with another. Manufacturers adopting this standard must acknowledge the source and may specify “Manufactured to the Southern Tasmanian Standard” or “Complies with the… Continue Reading
When it comes to vaccinating their babies, bees don’t have a choice—they naturally immunize their offspring against specific diseases found in their environments. And now for the first time, scientists have discovered how they do it. Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2015-07-bees-naturally-vaccinate-babies.html#jCp Continue Reading
Southern Beekeepers Association have been working on a Code Of Practice for Urban Beekeeping for some time, and recently approached Hobart City Council to discuss altering the current highly restrictive regulations: no more than two hives without the General Manager’s approval, all hives a minimum of fifty metres from the nearest residence. Technically, the fifty metre… Continue Reading
Bruce White Murray Arkadieff Continue Reading
An article on research by biologist Thomas Seeley, on what your bees are doing when they swarm, and how they choose where to start their new colony. Continue Reading
Biosecurity Tasmania have announced a change to the cost and structure of Beekeeper registration from June 30th, in the lead up to an even bigger change, the reintroduction of compulsory registration. In a letter distributed to previous registrants and to SBA members, Karla Williams of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) Biosecurity Tasmania… Continue Reading
Earlier this year Tristan Campbell of Honey Tasmania had several hives stolen. His lids had a distinctive slot for cooling. If you see hives with this type of lid, please contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 or report it through Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000. Continue Reading
While we don’t have this problem here yet, it’s worth watching how others are dealing with the issue. There have been a number of methods suggested for Varroa Destructor mite management, ranging from chemical treatments and vaporisers to frames designed for drone brood. Varroa mites prefer drones as their longer development cycle fits their mating… Continue Reading
A strange article from ABC’s “Ockham’s Razor” entitled “Kill all the bees”. Paul Sutton, professor of Environmental Science at the University Of South Australia, is not really advocating that we kill bees at all. He is talking about the unseen value of pollination and the impact to agriculture should we actually lose our bees. It is… Continue Reading