Barrier management
- Work on one beehive at a time and disinfect hands between beehives or wear disposable gloves and change them between hives.
- Number each frame and return them to the same beehive after any management activities or honey extraction to prevent cross-contamination.
- Disinfect equipment and change clothing between extractions from different beehives and apiaries. Varroa mites, for example, can be present in an apiary long before they are detected and are readily transported to other apiaries on clothing or on live bees moved in vehicles.
- Prevent bees from entering mobile extraction vans or central extraction plants.
- Cover and store used beekeeping equipment so robber bees are unable to gain access. Dead beehives must be sealed at the entrance, treated and stored to prevent the establishment of wax moths.
Transporting hives and equipment
- Transport hives at night when all the bees have returned to the beehive. Bees flying off loads during day transport can spread diseases and pests. It is preferable to cover loads with a bee-net to prevent them escaping.
- Keep accurate records of beehive movements so that in the event of an outbreak of an exotic disease or pest, traceback information about hive movements can be provided to identify possible risk areas for targeted surveillance.
- Cover used beehives and supers during transport or when left on vehicles during the day to prevent access by robber bees.
- Never stop near another beekeeper’s apiary or take used beehive equipment to another beekeeper’s central plant where a small apiary may be situated.
Purchasing hives and used equipment
- Purchase bees and equipment only from an apiary that is regularly checked for endemic and exotic bee diseases and pests.
- Obtain testing history of the apiary and beehives. Seek a vendor declaration that provides some assurance the bees and equipment are free from pests, diseases and chemical residues. Any quality assurance scheme should also be detailed on this vendor declaration.
- Inspect all the beehives for pests and disease before purchase. A honey culture test (HCT) should be done on a sample of honey from all beehives prior to purchase.
- Isolate and clearly label newly purchased beehives and used beekeeping equipment, infected beehives and products. Sterilise them to ensure any disease or pest is not transferred to the rest of your beehives. Never put these hives and equipment into several apiaries.
- Inspect the beehives regularly and monitor for disease. Isolate and observe any introduced bees.
Purchasing queens and nucleus hives
Purchased queen bees and their escorts are a low risk for the spread of brood diseases because irradiated honey is used in the queen candy.
Nucleus beehives can be a source of brood diseases and disease risk. Nucleus beehives may have a latent infection and it may take a number of weeks before the infection becomes visible. If present, bee pests can be readily spread through the purchase of queen bees and nucleus beehives.
Neglected and abandoned beehives
Neglected and abandoned beehives are a high disease risk. Beehives are considered to be neglected when:
- more than 5% of them in an apiary have died out
- beehives are of unsound construction that allows entry of robber bees
- used equipment and appliances are accessible to robber bees
- the beehives are not maintained
- hives are unbranded.
Where the owner cannot be located, hives are considered abandoned.
Beekeepers are encouraged to report possible incidents of neglected beehives, robbing or abandoned beehives to a Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Apiary Inspector.
Note: Make observations from outside the apiary and avoid trespass. Reports must be in writing stating the reasons why you consider the apiary to be neglected and the date the neglect was observed. Include your name and the location of the apiary.
BeeGuard
The BeeGuard initiative prioritised protection strategies for the diseases and pests that may seriously affect the livelihoods of Western Australia’s beekeepers. Beekeepers should consider adopting these strategies to assist in safeguarding their businesses.
Quality Assurance (QA)
Marketing quality-assured apiary products is of benefit to individual businesses and the industry as a whole. QA schemes can assist beekeepers to show their apiary products are produced with minimal and safe use of chemicals and they are free from specified pests and diseases. Nationally, B-Qual is being supported by beekeepers and processors.