Features:

For the July edition of The Australasian Beekeeper we welcome our Christine Joannides in her new role of editor and, we have updates on the happenings from World Bee Day 2019. There is some buzz with the new Australian Native Bee Association that has formed, and for this DIY inclined, we discover how to convert a shipping container into a honey packing room. This month covers the news from Europe on the pesticide ban, as well as a feature article on how bees are reacting to climate change and we have the 4th part of the pesticide situation which looks into how bees are affected during plant bloom and spraying as well as bee flight data and weight gain.

Planning on running a Bee Meeting? We have all the tips for making your groups next one successful. In a Closer Look, we delve into the Mushroom bodies in the Bee brain, as well as looking at Bee counting skills and how Manuka Honey is assisting Cystic Fibrosis infections in our regular magazine feature on Recent Research. There is also articles on the flowering Leatherwood trees decline in Tasmania and the pollination challenge when raising seedless watermelons.

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 1.

News

Featured
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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