Thread: The birth of a bee

Originally Posted by Bob Harding

TAsmania 374 but I fail to see what that has to do with anything

The new rules if adopted will just encourage many more Beekeepers

Not to register I already know a few members of the Tassie N/W coast

Beekeepers Assc that will drop out if it goes through me included

Making things tougher and over regulation only ever helps the Big Guys

And makes thing harder for the thousands of back yard bee keeper

To comply with rules that do not fix anything and just cost more money

And help drive out the small producers

Well, please explain how it will make things tougher. The rules are there to ensure beekeepers keep on top of diseases & mites that could decimate the industry. For example, there was no Small Hive Beetle on mainland Australia, until it was imported from Tasmania. Now this scourge has reached as far as Qld. Will Tasmania be responsible for the Varroa mite reaching the mainland , which could wipe out the industry, because no one in the World knows how to control this pest. Sounds like it, . Bob

I've had a native hive for about 5 years now (albeit loaned to my father-in-law to look after them when I was away for 6 months - he refuses to give them back!).

After seeing the Flow Hive (Honey On Tap From Your Own Beehive - Flow? Hive Home) system, and having no bees around to pollinate my vege gardens, I'm very keen on getting a hive. Might have to pick your brains in the near future.

Was planning to go to the QBA field day today, but other things got in the way.

Originally Posted by Ranga

I've had a native hive for about 5 years now (albeit loaned to my father-in-law to look after them when I was away for 6 months - he refuses to give them back!).

After seeing the Flow Hive (Honey On Tap From Your Own Beehive - Flow? Hive Home) system, and having no bees around to pollinate my vege gardens, I'm very keen on getting a hive. Might have to pick your brains in the near future.

Was planning to go to the QBA field day today, but other things got in the way.

I haven't been in the game long enough to pass judgement on that new flow hive set up. But the professional keepers in our association , some who have been bee keeping for 30 years, say it is a short term thrill, heading for a long term disaster. If you want to learn more, come to Northside Beekeepers meeting, last Tuesday of the month, at the CWA hall 1429 ANZAC avenue, Kallangur. Failing that, go to the Redcliffe show, we have a site there. One of the advantages of joining the association is you get your first nuc free. [ consists of an established Queen, & some frames of capped brood, uncapped brood, & capped honey & pollen] You also get a mentor, who will take you through all the ins & outs of bee keeping. The next meeting has been changed to the 23rd of June, to allow time to set up for the Redcliffe show.


Come along, if you are serious about bee keeping, my mentor has 25 hives at the GERNS site at Nudgee. I've been going there for a couple of months. Hands on is the best way to learn. I have my first hive at home, and I'm comfortable with them, we do things right in our association, because we are concerned about the future of bee keeping in Australia, . Bob

Originally Posted by bob10

Well, please explain how it will make things tougher. The rules are there to ensure beekeepers keep on top of diseases & mites that could decimate the industry. For example, there was no Small Hive Beetle on mainland Australia, until it was imported from Tasmania. Now this scourge has reached as far as Qld. Will Tasmania be responsible for the Varroa mite reaching the mainland , which could wipe out the industry, because no one in the World knows how to control this pest. Sounds like it, . Bob

Dear oh dear what a load of ol cods wallop

Please go and check your facts if you wish

To denigrate Tasmania and me please do

It with the facts not a load of rubbish and

Well loony ravings it would appear that it

Is not possible to have a intelligent chat

About this so I will cease posting in this thread

Thankyou for starting it tho

Originally Posted by Bob Harding

Dear oh dear what a load of ol cods wallop

Please go and check your facts if you wish

To denigrate Tasmania and me please do

It with the facts not a load of rubbish and

Well loony ravings it would appear that it

Is not possible to have a intelligent chat

About this so I will cease posting in this thread




Thankyou for starting it tho

I will check the facts, on the off chance I have it wrong. And if I do, I will apologise to you & Tasmania, but that doesn't change the fact that properly registered and maintained hives are the key to a healthy industry. Registered bee keepers can be informed by E-mail if a threat from varroa, or some disease , such as American foul brood, is in their area.


No doubt you are aware Tasmania is the only state with the Braula fly [bee louse] The introduction of bees, hives, combs, comb honey , bee-collected pollen , used bee keeping tools and appliances from Tasmania to the mainland is strictly regulated or prohibited by mainland states & territories. Any one wishing to introduce these items to the mainland must first contact the relevant state or territory to determine the current rules. So you see, the precedent has been set.


At the moment Australia is free of the varroa mite, varroa has spread throughout the World, including both islands of NZ. Varroa infests adult European honey bees and brood, weakening & eventually killing their colonies. It also transmits honey bee viruses which probably have a far greater effect on the colony than the mite itself. Varroa is a notifiable bee pest. To not notify is to break the law. The honey bee tracheal mite is another nasty we don't yet have here. The Code of Practise and National bio-security Program has been set up to give Australian Bee-keepers the best possible chance if [ some say when] these pests get a foothold here. I say you would have to be a loony not to buy into the program. Bob

Mea Culpa, checked my facts, I was mis-informed. So, apologies to you, & the good bee keepers of Tasmania. However, the threat of Small hive Beetle is real. Bob




[ame]http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/41262/apiary_shb_fact_sheet_2006.pdf[/ame]

The flow hive invention seems good as it does not disturb the bees. HOWEVER. You still have to disturb them by lifting the honey box off to check the brood box. I take the opportunity to check the brood box when I am robbing the old fashion way. Jim

Apology accepted luckily Tassie will be last place

In the world invested by verroa mite thank goodness

Small hive beetle is not a large prob here cause they

Dont like the cold the bigger problems are mostly the same

As over there American foul-brood ect and as a registered

Bee keeper I send samples to be tested for diseases every year

Our Dept of whatever test them as part of the license fee

But the new regimes proposed will not solve any problems

Only enrich the bigger producers but history will decide the outcome