Entries by B-QUAL Admin

NEWSLETTER JUNE 2025

LATEST ARTICLES Fall Feeding – Preparing Your Bees for Winter Survival As the seasons shift, your bees are preparing for one of the most critical times of the year.  How you support them now will shape their chances of thriving through winter and emerging strong in spring. We’ve created a practical, easy-to-follow guide to help […]

Fall Feeding: Preparing Your Bees for Winter Survival

Autumn is coming – are you prepared for colder weather? As temperatures drop and flowers fade, honeybee colonies across Australia and other temperate regions prepare for the long, resource-scarce months of winter. For beekeepers, autumn marks a critical window for intervention—when proactive feeding can mean the difference between survival and colony loss. While bees work […]

Varroa Mite in Australia: What Beekeepers Need to Know

A New Threat to Australian Beekeeping For years, Australian beekeepers watched from afar as Varroa destructor, one of the most destructive pests of honey bees worldwide, wreaked havoc on colonies across Europe, North America, and Asia. Australia remained one of the few countries free of this invasive mite—until recently. The detection of Varroa mites in […]

Sustainable Beekeeping Practices: A Guide for Ethical Apiculture

Why Sustainable Beekeeping Matters More Than Ever As the importance of bees becomes more widely understood, the way we manage them is evolving. Sustainable beekeeping is about more than just harvesting honey—it’s about protecting pollinators, supporting biodiversity, and maintaining healthy colonies for the long term. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a commercial apiarist, adopting ethical […]

NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2025

Varroa mite spread The varroa mite, a parasitic mite that attacks honey bees, has spread across Australia, prompting concerns for honey production and pollination services. Eradication Abandoned: Australia has abandoned its $100 million efforts to eradicate the varroa mite and is now focusing on managing its spread. Management Strategies: Beekeepers are being urged to monitor, test, […]

The Declining Bee Population in Australia

A Call to Action for Beekeepers Beekeepers across Australia are facing increasing challenges as the country’s bee population declines. These vital pollinators play an essential role in agriculture, ecosystems, and honey production, yet habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, and emerging threats like Varroa mites are putting immense pressure on their survival. Without urgent action, beekeeping […]

Honey: More Than Just a Sweetener – Exploring the Health Benefits

The golden nectar For centuries, honey has been treasured not just for its delightful sweetness but also for its incredible health benefits. Used in traditional medicine across cultures, honey is far more than a natural sugar alternative—it’s a powerhouse of nutrients, antioxidants, and healing properties. Whether consumed raw, added to tea, or applied to wounds, […]

Newsletter – March 2025

National survey launched to tackle Varroa mite threat to honey bees Australia’s beekeepers are being urged to complete the Australian Colony Loss Survey as part of a national effort to understand the impact of the Varroa mite (Varroa) outbreak and improve hive health management. The survey is a crucial step in building a long-term dataset […]

Autumn Feeding Strategies: Choosing the Right Supplements

Planning for the colder months ahead Bees begin preparing for the colder months ahead as the days grow shorter and temperatures drop. A strong, well-fed colony is more likely to survive winter and emerge healthy in spring. But nectar flows can dwindle in autumn, leaving beekeepers with a crucial decision: should you supplement your hives, […]

How to Keep Your Hives Healthy in Australia’s Changing Climate

Things are changing… Australia’s climate is becoming increasingly unpredictable, with extreme heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and unseasonal rainfall affecting ecosystems across the country. For beekeepers, these changes pose significant challenges in maintaining healthy and productive hives. Understanding how to adapt and support your bees in this evolving environment is crucial to their survival and the sustainability […]