ANBA is co-ordinating a rescue effort for colonies of stingless bees which are in the Varroa Mite Red Eradication Zones and need to be moved. ANBA is offering to foster your stingless bees for you, if you do not have a safe place where you can take your bees. More details – Hive Foster Program – Varroa Response
If you wish to accept the ANBA offer of assistance, you will need to prepare your boxed hive or log nest and bring it to a central collection point, to be received into the ANBA hive fostering program.
Please follow these steps:
1. Check the condition of your boxed hive or log nest
To be accepted for fostering by the ANBA:
- Your stingless bee colony must be strong and healthy.
- Your box or log must be in good condition.
- Your box or log must weigh less than 15 kg*
- Your box or log must be compact enough to be transported in a car*
* If your box or log is larger than this, please provide details of its weight and dimensions to the ANBA coordinator and the team in your area will advise if they can assist you. Email: varroa@anba.org.au
2. Prepare your stingless bees for transport
- Pack the hive at night when all bees are inside.
- Close all entrances to stop the bees leaving the hive. Use something that can breathe, such as a piece of material, gauze or fly screen. Push the piece of material into the entrance loosely. Make sure all holes are plugged.
- For extra security, pack the hive into a cardboard carton.
- KEEP THE HIVE COOL. Put your car air-conditioning on a low temperature. Do not leave the hive in a parked car. Take it with you and leave it in a cool, shady place. Treat the hive like you would treat your pet dog.
- Be careful with hives that are very full. Full hives have little air space inside and so are more susceptible to lack of oxygen than a hive that has a large volume of air space.