Package Bees

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 95, Issue 2, 15 August 1957, Page 121

Package Bees

THOUGH the use of package bees is not extensive in New « Zealand, some beekeepers in southern districts find their use economical, and more interest generally is now being taken in methods of handling and introducing them. In this article D. W. A. Seal, Apiary Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Invercargill, describes a method for setting up package bees which is very simple, gives wholly satisfactory results, and eliminates the use. of sugar syrup or spraying with water to quieten the bees before introduction. The method also largely eliminates robbing, drifting of bees, and possible loss of queens.

IN southern districts of New Zealand winters are much longer than in other parts of the country and the toll of bees is inclined to be high; in addition a far greater amount of winter stores is required. To winter an average colony well 601 b. to 801 b. of honey is needed in addition to about

201 b. of pollen. A dearth of pollen in spring is another

hazard for southern, beekeepers. The use of package bees procured from North Auckland, where the season is much earlier, greatly minimises these winter problems in the south. Once the crop has been extracted the colonies may be killed and all combs and equipment stored over winter, thus saving at least 601 b. of honey per colony normally used for winter feeding, and reserving the combs of pollen for spring, when they are most needed. It also eliminates the need for periodical winter inspections of out apiaries or the possible risk of damage to colonies and equipment by high winds and storms. Another point in favour of package bees is that they are a simple and sure method of establishing young queens each season. Past Methods In the past, methods of setting up package bees have to some extent been rather complicated in addition to causing possible losses of queens and creating robbing where packages have been used to fill in winter losses in already established apiaries. Southland beekeepers have found that a package Ilin, x lOin. x s|in. with wire gauze on the two sides and containing 21b. of bees travels better than a package containing 31b. of bees, and the risk of possible suffocation is minimised. Bees thus packaged in sets of four packages with a 2in. space between each package have travelled 900 miles by air and arrived in perfect condition. Packages dispatched from Kaitaia, North Auckland, in the morning can be set up in their hives in Invercargill district the same evening. Establishing Package Bees Mid-October is considered the best time to establish package bees in

Southland. The equipment required for each is a hive floor, cover, excluder, mat, and super containing three full combs of honey and pollen which have been stored over winter from the previous season. When the combs in the super are being arranged two combs of honey should be placed against one side, then a good pollen comb, and then the remaining empty combs. By this method the colony has stores handy on one side and room for expansion on the other. After the floor board is set level the queen excluder is placed immediately on top, then the super of combs and stores. The entrance is then plugged lightly with green grass. This will have wilted sufficiently by the next morning to allow the bees to remove it gradually and thus prevent the sudden rush of bees and consequent confusion if the bees are released immediately. Three combs are then removed from the centre of the super to allow room to dump the bees from the packages. After each package has been set out by its hive and the four nails which are normally driven through the sides of the package into the lid have been removed tipping the bees into the hive can be begun. From here on a hive tool is the only tool required. A smoker is not needed, but it is as well to have it ready in the event of accidents. To open the cage first dump it lightly to dislodge the bees from the lid, then with the hive tool lever the lid off, dumping the package lightly twice while doing so. This gentle dumping tends to demoralise the bees and reduce the sudden urge to fly out. It is essential that the dumping is done gently and is only sufficient to dislodge the bulk of the bees. It must be remembered that the caged queen and her attendant bees are attached to the underside of the lid and that any excessive dumping could cause damage to the queen. Once the lid is off tip the bees into the space provided between the combs and replace, the combs previously removed. The last operation is to place the caged queen in the hive. The queen cage is quickly but carefully detached from the lid, the cardboard covering the candy removed and the cage placed between the combs and the largest area of wire gauze facing downward, the candy end being exposed to the hive bees. Placing the mat and then the cover on top completes the operation.

The removal of cardboard covering the candy, though not essential, permits a much earlier release of the queen and minimises the risk of suffocation should the outside temperature become abnormally high. Quickness in placing the queen cage into the hive and covering it up is essential, as delay will permit bees to fly out and this should be avoided. If, however, a delay occurs, it is wise to place the mat over the combs during the delay. When all operations are complete the colony should be left undisturbed for about a week. At the end of this period the queen excluder is removed from the base of the hive and the colony carries on normally. Experience so far has shown that crops from such colonies have equalled those gathered by over-wintered colonies, their use saves at least 601 b. of honey per hive, and there are no wintering worries. Package bees landed in Invercargill cost about £2; therefore, when all factors are compared they are an advantage to Southland beekeepers or to beekeepers in any district where winters are hard and spring pollen supplies are short.