Apiary Hygiene
What problems can be spread?
- Insects
- Wax moth
- Small Hive Beetle
- Mites
- Varroa
- Tropilaelaps
- Braula Fly
- Fungus
- Nosema Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae.
- Chalkbrood
- Bacteria
- American Foul Brood Paenibacillus larvae
- European Foul Brood Melissococcus plutonius
- Viruses
- Chronic Bee Paralysis (CBP)
- Deformed Wing Virus (DWV)
- Sacbrood virus
How can we prevent disease spread?
- Transfer of combs between colonies
- Just don't do it unless absolutely necessary.
- Never do it if there is disease in the donating colony
- Robbing
- Only feed bees early evening
- Restrict hive entrances so easily guarded.
- Drifting
- Set up the apiary so hives point different ways.
- Place clear sign on front of hive.
- Be aware of direction of prevailing wind when positioning hives.
- Swarms
- Swarms should be housed in a separate location whilst you check them.
- Purchases
- Make certain that any purchases are from reputable suppliers.
- Infected comb
- Infected comb should be destroyed.
- Do not move comb between hives.
- Honey
- Honey can carry EFB spores
- Honey bought from supermarkets is particularly risky.
- Do not feed honey to bees.
- Equipment
- All equipment should be cleaned and sterilised.
- This should be done regularly.
- Beekeepers
- If other beekeepers come to your apiary observe tight biosecurity.
- If you go to another apiary observe tight biosecurity.
- Clean gloves - preferably new disposable
- Clean suit.
- Wash your boots/shoes before going.
Every time at the apiary.
- Washing soda bucket
- Take a lidded container of washing soda solution.
- One part washing soda to five parts water.
- Suit
- Wear a clean bee suit.
- Check integrity of veil after washing.
- Washing also removes pheromones left if your suit has been stung.
- Gloves
- Use washable gloves.
- Use light coloured gloves - bees prefer them
- Rinse gloves in washing soda solution between hives.
- Use disposable nitrile gloves if visiting another apiary,
- Smoker
- Cover bellows with disposable shower cap.
- or cover bellows with disposable shoe covers.
- Metal tools
- Wash tools in washing soda between hives.
- Rubbish
- Take a lidded container with you.
- Into the container.
- Rubbish.
- Scraped off brace comb
- Used disposable gloves.
Regularly at the apiary.
- Brood comb
- Should be changed every 3 years by
- Ad hoc comb replacement
- Bailey comb exchange
- Shook swarm
- Super comb
- Should be changed every 5 years
- Clean new comb gives more and cleaner honey.
What to do away from apiary.
- Wash your bee suit.
- Remove the veil if possible.
- Zip veil into suit sleeve if not removable.
- Stop zips opening with safety pins.
- Use a scent free detergent if possible.
- Add half a cup of washing soda.
- Wash in hottest wash garment permits
- Do not tumble dry.
- Scrub polystyrene hives
- Scorch wooden hives.
- Treat frames with washing soda solution.
- Make up new frames.
- Put hive parts in the freezer for 48 hours at -20C
Further Reading
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