Beekeeping in Queensland n The honeybee Apis mellifera

Beekeeping in Queensland n The honeybee (Apis mellifera) was introduced to Australia in 1810 by Samuel Marsden who imported an unknown number of colonies from England. n The early settlers attempted to use the honeybees for pollination of fruit trees but the first attempts to establish bee colonies failed. A second successful introduction was made in 1822*

Beekeeping in Queensland n Bees collect nectar, pollen and water each day to take back to the hive so that future generations can live. n The raw nectar comes from flowers. They mix this with secretions from their glands, thereby transforming it and after it is deposited in the comb, it ripens into honey after a few days*

Beekeeping in Queensland n WHY HONEY? n Honey is a quick, safe and natural energy giver because its simple sugars are quickly absorbed into the blood stream. Honey contains many vitamins and minerals. n Honey is made up of: n Natural sugars 80% (mainly levulose, Dextrose and glucose) n Moisture 17% n Mineral traces 3% *

Beekeeping in Queensland

Beekeeping in Queensland n Queen bees live for 1 to 4 years n Drone bees live for 6 to 8 weeks n Worker bees live for 6 to 8 weeks*

Beekeeping in Queensland

Beekeeping in Queensland n Queens can lay up to 2, 000 eggs in 1 day. n (That is 1 egg every 43. 2 seconds) n It takes 21 days from an egg to a bee. n There about 40, 000 / 60, 000 bees in each beehive. n Each bee frame has about 3, 000 cells on each side of the frame. (6, 000 cells per frame)*

Beekeeping in Queensland n Honey Comb

Beekeeping in Queensland n Bees are attracted to Dark colours which can excite them, so it is best to wear light colours & NOT dark. (Hats and Socks as well) n 100 bee hives can use up to 1, 000 litres of water in a week, That's 10 litres per each bee hive each week. *

Beekeeping in Queensland

Beekeeping in Queensland n Bees can beat their wings up to 200 times per Second as they fly. (They have 4 wings) This is how they make their buzzing noise. n Bees can carry 50% of there weight in a load of honey and a Jumbo can only carry about 25% of their weight. n Honey does not have a use by date, In Egypt they found honey that could be eaten after 2, 000 years. *

Beekeeping in Queensland

Beekeeping in Queensland n Bees need to eat about 7 kilograms of honey to make 1 kilogram of bees wax. n Pollen contains high levels of Protein, 1 kilogram of Pollen contains the same protein as 5 kilo of beef. n Bees use only about 1 teaspoon of honey to fly around the world. *

Beekeeping in Queensland

Beekeeping in Queensland n Honey n n n Types Blue Gum, Tea Tree, Brush Box, Iron Bark, Stringybark, Grey Gum Yellow Box Spotted Gum Bloodwood Gum-Top Box *

Beekeeping in Queensland

Beekeeping in Queensland n n n A Bee is an Insect Head Thorax Abdomen 4 Wings 6 Legs

Beekeeping in Queensland n. THE END