Bee Blog
How to Test for Varroa Mites: Alcohol Wash vs Sugar Shake vs CO2
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The five ways to check a hive for varroa in Australia: alcohol wash, sugar shake, CO2, sticky board and drone brood, compared and explained step by step.
Honey Bee Diseases in Australia: A Practical Guide
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Identify, treat and prevent the main honey bee diseases in Australia — varroa, AFB, EFB, small hive beetle, chalkbrood and more. A practical guide for Aussie beekeepers.
How to Start Beekeeping in Australia: A Beginner's Complete Guide
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Starting beekeeping in Australia doesn't have to be overwhelming. This guide walks through everything you need to know, from equipment to bees to first inspections, for your first year. Thinking about getting your first beehive? You're in good company, beekeeping has quietly become one of Australia's most rewarding backyard hobbies. But before you spend a cent on equipment, there are a few things worth understanding: how much time you'll actually need, what beekeeping costs in year one, and what equipment is genuinely essential versus what you can skip. This guide walks through everything we wish someone had told us when...
Bee Hive Boxes & Frames Explained: An Australian Guide to Sizes
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Beekeeping starts with two decisions that shape everything else: how wide your box is, and how tall your frames are. This guide walks through every box and frame size you'll choose from in Australia. Choosing your first beehive, or expanding an existing one, means working out two completely separate things: how wide the box is (5, 8 or 10 frame) and how tall the frames are (Full Depth, WSP, Manley or Ideal). There are 12 possible combinations, and beekeepers will argue about every one of them. This guide is the version we wish someone had written for us: what each...
A quick look at Australian native bees
Australia has an amazing array of native bees and is home to around 2,000 species of native bees. Not only are they fascinating to observe, native bees play a vital role in the ecosystem and are vital pollinators of Australia's unique and diverse flora.