Features:

For the May edition of The Australasian Beekeeper we get an official statement from Apimonda on honey fraud. We look at five ways to help save native bee habitats and in the Apiary covers helping getting ready for winter, we also feature an article so you're no longer daunting the job of requeening. We have the 2nd part of the pesticide situation which will keep you thinking and we have a closer look into pheromone regulation.

Mark your diaries for June this year for the NSW Amateur Beekeepers Association Conference 2019, this years conference topic is 'The Art & Science of Beekeeping'. With all things invasive, we look at sightings of cane toads in the Hunter Region as well as a new revised approach 
for the control of American Foulbrood in NSW. Clarence covers the topic that a dangerous bee virus might be just an innocent bystander in our regular magazine feature on Recent Research.

Don't miss our regular catch up on the news in the bee world, and connect with other beekeepers via our associations page, this month we feature Part 2.

News

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Incursion of Asian bees (Apis cerana) in Darwin
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Varroa jacobsoni in Townsville - Updates from AHBIC

APIS CERANA AND VARROA JACOBSONI IN TOWNSVILLE – NO. 17 - 2 March 2017
In the two and half months since I last reported there have been no Asian bees found in Townsville. Under the Response Plan the eradication phase of the program ended on 28 February and we now move into the proof of freedom stage. It is anticipated that the proof of freedom stage will last for three (3) years unless there are more findings of Asian bees and Varroa jacobsoni.

In February I spent a day in Townsville talking with the leaders of the eradication response. I was pleased with the discussions I had. Now the proof of freedom stage has been started there will be a reduction in the staffing numbers. Key members of the eradication program will be retained.

Thank you to the industry volunteers who went to Townsville to help out. Your input, particularly in showing the local beekeepers how to carry out sugar shakes, alcohol washes and drone uncapping, were very much appreciated by the local beekeepers. This testing forms an important part of the proof of freedom stage.

One of the staff who will moving onto another job is Roger Winton. Roger came in as the local controller when the Asian bees and V. jacobsoni were first found. I found Roger very easy to work with. So thank you Roger for your work. Best of luck in your new job.

So at this stage I will not be putting out any more information bulletins unless there is a change in the situation in Townsville.

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Australian Honey is a Safe Product
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BEE SAFE and BEE Prepared videos online
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