Almond pollination hives

Biosecurity practices are essential for bee health, especially when keeping honey bees in areas that have high-density concentrations of hives. These include:

• hive dumps
• wintering sites
• almond orchards.

Hive biosecurity practices

Apiarists have legislated responsibilities around hive management, which includes keeping and providing records of specified biosecurity measures.

Almond pollinators also need to prevent disease spread, exposure, robbing, and hive neglect. If you are involved in pollination industries, follow these best practice guidelines.

Bee diseases

Take all reasonable steps to prevent and eradicate bee disease.

1. Implement a barrier system and keep records on preventing exposure and robbing.
2. Conduct regular in-hive inspections of brood, including:
   • varroa mite sampling
   • apiary-based American foulbrood honey testing.
3. Report any suspicion or existence of disease to an inspector by the quickest practicable means.

Hive strength

Make sure that only hives of the recommended or contracted strength are provided for pollination. Hives of 3 to 4 frames of bees, or less in a double hive, are likely to die out and are not considered pollination hives.

1. Unite or add brood and bees.
2. Re-queen as needed.
3. Control excess honey bee access-point areas or supplementary feeding.
4. Group weaker hives together and locate them away from other stronger hives.
5. Conduct rapid assessments and in-hive inspections of brood and bees.

Hive condition

Make sure all hives are designed, constructed, operated and maintained to be bee-proof and leak-proof, except for appropriately sized entrances.

1. Re-hive if conditions are poor.
2. Maintain hives using durable and secure materials that are suitable for bee-proofing.
3. Place, align and secure hive components to protect against inadvertent dislodgement or movement.
4. Close off honey bee access before hives become exposed or robbed.
5. Monitor hives regularly and inspect for dislodgement immediately after unloading.
6. Remove hives with poor conditions from any area associated with high-density concentrations.
7. Make sure dead hives remain bee-proof and leak-proof before removing them – do not keep dead hives.

Bee feeding

Feeding should only begin in the late afternoon. Any spills or leaks must be avoided or immediately dealt with.

1. Prevent dwindling or starvation by monitoring food and providing sufficient stores.
2. Make sure supplementary feed is available.
3. Prevent robbing by only feeding in hive – do not bulk feed.
4. Conduct in-hive inspections of honey and pollen food reserves.

Hive placement

Place and secure hives in a position that they:

• retain implemented barrier systems
• minimise drift and interaction with other hives
• can be readily and safely accessed by the almond grower, a third-party auditor, and Biosecurity SA for compliance checking.

Contact

PIRSA Apiary Unit
Email: pirsa.beebiosecurity@sa.gov.au