Bee Swarms and Diseases

Swarms

Bees generally swarm between August and December. Bees are not usually aggressive and will go about their day to day duties unless they feel threatened or are under attack. Try to avoid the flight path of bees swarms and leave them to their own devices.

If a bee swarm on government land is causing concern, call Canberra Connect on 13 22 81. If the swarm is on private property call a Swarm Collector a list is available by visiting the ACT Beekeepers Association  

Bee Identification

Although bees and European wasps are similar in size and shape, you can differentiate between the two by their colours and markings. Bees are a dull shade of yellow or golden brown colour through to black, with black stripes around their body, but no black dot like the European wasp. European wasps are bright yellow and black with bright yellow legs. They are predominantly black on their front half with bright yellow markings, and predominantly bright yellow on their back half with black stripes and black dots between the stripes down each side of the abdomen (sometimes joining the stripes). European wasps have longer, thicker antennae than bees.

Bees nest in trees or wall cavities and have also been found in compost bins and cavities such as old suitcases. The most likely place for a European wasp nest to occur is in the ground, although they also nest in walls, ceilings and trees. Wasp nests are easily sighted due to the constant activity above the nest, although the nest entrance can be well hidden amongst vegetation.

Diseases

It is not currently a requirement for bee keepers to be registered with the Environment Protection Authority  although the Animal Diseases Regulation 2006 prohibits the keeping of honeybees other than in frame hives. The regulation also prohibits a person from exposing honey or honey comb, other than in a frame hive, in a way that honeybees may have access to it as this can lead to the spread of diseases. For the same reason, a beekeeper should never feed honey to honey bees.

The disease aspect of beekeeping is administered under the Animal Diseases Act 2005.  If bees are declared as suffering from Exotic or Endemic diseases under the Animal Diseases Act 2005, the Director of Veterinary Hygiene must be notified in writing immediately. Declared Endemic Diseases under the Animal Diseases Act 2005 are American Brood Disease, Nosema Disease, Chalk Brood Disease, Stone Brood Disease and European Brood. Declared Exotic Diseases under the Animal Diseases Act 2005 are Africanised Bee, Tracheal Mite, Asian Bees, Tropilaelaps Mite, Asian Mite, Varroa Mite and Braula Fly.

Health Inspections and interstate transfers

Health inspections are normally carried out at the request of a beekeeper suspecting Brood diseases or when transferring hives interstate. Where an inspection is required the Environment Protection Authority  contracts experienced people to undertake this service. A Health certificate is issued when no disease is detected . If a hive is identified as having American Foulbrood or American Brood disease, the colonies must be destroyed. The cost of destroying disease hives will be determined on a case by case basis and may be met by the Environment Protection Authority  upon application. For further information on Exotic and Endemic Diseases in the ACT, refer to the Animal Diseases Act 2005  and in NSW the NSW Department of Primary Industries website  

When transferring hives into the ACT a health check is not required. Please check with other state authorities prior to transferring bee's outside of the ACT.