Container for Air Transport of Bees

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 95, Issue 1, 15 July 1957, Page 36

Container for Air Transport of Bees

SINCE the Department of Agriculture in co-operation with interested beekeepers first demonstrated in 1952 the practicability of air transport of honey bees from North Auckland to South Island beekeepers a considerable trade in package bees between the two islands has developed. As the safety and comfort of crews and passengers is of paramount importance in air transport, much time and thought have been devoted by producers, officials of National Airways Corporation, and officers of the Department of Agriculture to the development of a container which would provide the maximum degree of safety while still allowing the transport of the bees without undue loss or deterioration through overheating or lack of ventilation. In this article D. Roberts, Apiary Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Auckland, describes the type of thoroughly tested container which must now be used if packages of bees are to be accepted by National Airways Corporation.

BECAUSE honey bees are beneficial insects of great importance to mankind, they have been introduced and cultivated in all parts of the world where natural conditions provide sufflcient sustenance to ensure their survival. Apart from the honey bees’ production of honey, in itself a not inconsiderable contribution to the world’s food supplies, their services as pollinators of food-producing trees and plants are of the utmost importance, The increasing recognition of their value in this respect has immeasur-

ably increased the demand for their services, with the result that transport of honey bees from place to place is now a widespread activity in most agricultural countries. With this greatly increased movement has come a considerable change in methods of transport. The natural habits of honey bees combined with their susceptibility to injury or death through close confinement, lack of ventilation, or overheating make their confinement and transport in solid containers impractical except for very

short periods or in special conditions under the control of experienced beekeepers well versed in their requiremen s ‘ Successful transport by public facilities entails the provision of specially constructed containers and where, as is usual, no expert attention is available en route the selection of the most rapid means so that the period of confinement is reduced to the minimum.

The development of air transport has greatly simplified some of the problems associated with the movement of honey bees by public utilities, but the requirements peculiar to the carriage of air freight demand that the most careful attention should be given to the design and secure construction of containers. Experience over the past few years has shown > that the design of packages and containers could be improved. The cages and crating shown in the illustrations are regarded as offering the maximum security consistent with

the health of the bees and a reasonable freight charge. The specifications were decided in consultations between the principal producer of packages, Mr. W. I. Haines, of Kaitaia, officials of National Airways Corporation, and the Apiary Instructors of the Department of Agriculture, Auckland. When properly constructed and securely crated the package cages form a very rigid construction which should withstand any normal hazard. The great care taken in the construction of the packages and their crating combined with the very efficient freight service of National Airways Corporation should ensure that packages of bees as now dispatched reach their destination in the best possible condition. At the same time the safety requirements are fully met.