Here at Flow Hive, we would love to hear a brief summary of the current landscape of beekeeping within Australia.
What is happening in each state? E.g. drought in SA
What has affected your beekeeping over the last 12 months, and how have you adapted?
What are you predicting over the next 12 months
Any other insight or feedback?
The most notable event in my apiary and region is varroa. Early predictions of hive collapses taking two to three years based on overseas data proved wrong. Australia is arguably the first country to have small hive beetle (SHB) before varroa. The combination of varroa weakening the colony allowing SHB to overwhelm the colony has led to hive losses in a matter of weeks.
With feral colonies and unmanaged hives collapsing and becoming SHB and mite bombs, infestation rates of both have been off the charts. Hive losses very high, workload to control both pests high.
A year later since my first detection, things are easing up. Still have to be vigilant, but no more losses.
In my area, Varroa has been here two years and major side effect is market garden/small crop producers didn’t get the normal yields. No feral bee pollination!. I also see trees covered in flowers that would normally be buzzing with bees, are almost devoid of honey bees.
I believe we’re through the worst of it, but as the varroa wave spreads I expect a similar pattern wherever SHB has any presence.
Mike
Thank you Mike. What practices and/or treatments have you been using for Varroa and SHB?
Hey Bija,
I’ve avoided synthetic chemicals so far. I use hyperthermia as the main treatment along with other mechanical methods I.e. screen bottom board, for SHB traps and Chux. I supplement hyperthermia with oxalic acid sublimation.
Hyperthermia is labour intensive and with a high capital outlay, but very effective.
Mike
Thanks Mike. We get regular feedback from Clubs and Ambassadors, but it makes such a difference to know what’s happening for our Flow beekeepers in each region and helps us to know what content and tips we should focus on in each area. Even a few kilometres can make such a difference!
Early spring nectar and activity have started at the Flow apiary 
Yes, spring has started down here too. Caught two swarms in the last couple of days. I’m looking forward to a great season in spite of the new reality. The good thing for new beekeepers is that they will only know life with Varroa, so it’ll be normal.
Keep up the great work and teach good beekeeping.
Mike
Hi there, I am in Raglan Vic. I began bee keeping at the beginning of November 2024 so this is still really my first year. 2 or 3 weeks after I purchased my nuc, I also cut out a hive from a friends water fountian and I realised I needed to feed my bees and pretty much fed them right through last summer to the end of winter as there was no honey stores at all. Coming into spring this year the weather had been very cold and wet which made it really hard to do inspections. When I finally got a couple of inspections in I found plenty of bees and decided to put the supers on both hives, the day I did there was even more bees bubbling out over the top and thought this is perfect but I was wrong because they must have swarmed soon after……both hives. The next inspection or 2 there were very few bees and Little brood to none and the brood box was full of nectar. I called in some help from my local bee keeper and by then they have started to right themselves. Found a queen in one and in the other we found grubs so there must be a laying queen and off came the supers until they build up their numbers again. We have had a couple of good days but Of course it is raining again now. Initially I thought I made a mistake buying a 10 frame brood box when I realised how heavy the super was going to be and wondered how I was actually going to lift it but thank god you brought out the super lifter, I have only used it twice on an empty super but love it and don’t regret my choice anymore. My beekeeper friends will come out and help again on my next inspection and hopefully I will be able to put the supers back on soon. I have learnt a lot in the last 12 months. I have had no pests so far other than one small hive beetle that I squashed ( sure there will be more in the future). I am dying to get just one jar of honey but I know I have to be patient and will be.
Linda
I am into my third season in the interest of Beeeeping and ive already seen contrasting seasonal conditions in that time. The 1st being a bountiful season regarding honey which really opened my eyes at how disgusting store bought honey really is. No wonder i never really developed the taste for honey until i actually had genuine hives producing real honey.
As time progressed and you start to feel a sense of awarness to things you didnt pay attention to before, like the haversting behaviors between two colonies, behavoural patterns on what they harvest and leave for other pollinators. Its a genuine joy to observe the Bees on a daily basis, seeing progression with each external and internal hive observation.
My second season (2024) ended up to be the 3rd driest season on record for south Australia. Translating to pollen and nectar flows to average on 10% of average yields. My mentor possesed over 130 hives which ended up dropping to just above 30 through the necessity to combine weaker colonies. The 30 in number was the end result. On a personal note for me it was a necassary challenge because with Bees you commit them in the good times and challenging periods. The real Focal point has been the bees themselves.
At this point in time my bees are now doing really well. Although varroa is continuously moving westward with its influence, pirsa giving notification of the mites presense in the state for a second time. Rain has been a more consistent presense which is in all honesty a welcome thing considering.
Seasonal conditions wise i dont know what to expect come the drier months. Im hoping for a better season than the last but time will tell honestly.
Great to hear about the activity The key takeaway is indeed instilling good habits early given that Varroa is now an endemic challenge