Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to rear high quality queen bees and queen cells through the application of good management practices.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Establish conditions and obtain requirements for queen bee rearing | 1.1 Select breeding stock from productive healthy stock or purchase breeder queen bee 1.2 Obtain all tools and equipment needed to rear queen bees 1.3 Select and use personal protective equipment 1.4 Identify work health and safety hazards and take action to minimise them 1.5 Observe site quarantine or other biosecurity protocols in force 1.6 Confirm all hives and colonies used for queen bee and drone production are in a clean and healthy condition 1.7 Select day-old larvae from the breeder queen bee for grafting and transfer from worker cells into queen cell cups 1.8 Confirm an adequate number of nurse bees are present in cell raising colonies 1.9 Use a suitable method for cell production |
2. Establish and monitor the queen mating process | 2.1 Transfer ripe queen cells into the nucleus 10 to 11 days after grafting 2.2 Provide an adequate number of mature, well-nourished and genetically suitable drones during mating period 2.3 Record details of grafting and subsequent placement of cells into nucleus colonies 2.4 Record the age of the queen removed from mating colony |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting.
The candidate must provide evidence that they can:
select breeding stock or purchase breeder queen bee according to established breeding program criteria
graft larvae of a suitable age
assess and maintain nutrition and health of larvae and drones
manage the hive
handle bees
appropriately monitor the queen mating process
recognise diseases, pests and disorders and take appropriate action.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
principles and practices of rearing queen bees
signs of brood and adult bee ill health sufficient to recognise diseases, pests and disorders and take appropriate action
storage requirements of queen bees
techniques and timing for queen cell production
optimum conditions are for re-queening
bee biology.
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Beekeeping (BEK)