Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare to check brood
- Assess health and condition of brood
- Inspect hive for signs of diseased brood being ejected from hive at entrance or bottom board
- Inspect brood for signs and evidence of pests and disease and, where pests or notifiable disease is observed, notify authorities and take action
- Identify signs of disease or pests, collect samples for testing and gather evidence to support a diagnosis
- Assess health and condition of adult bees
- Observe flight paths around hive entrance for signs of poor or irregular flight patterns and for dead or dying bees at hive entrance
- Observe adult bees and brood combs for signs of disease and, if notifiable disease is present, notify authorities and take action
- Identify signs of disease or pest, collect samples for testing and gather evidence to support a diagnosis
- Implement biosecurity measures
- Record results of inspections and any remedial action taken and use as the basis of future beekeeping operations