Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to rear queen bees and queen cells through the manipulation of hives.
The unit applies to experienced beekeepers who exercise judgement to complete a range of specialist activities requiring a thorough understanding in honey production. They have accountability for the work of others and analyse, design and communicate solutions to a range of complex problems.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, state and territory legislation, regulations and local government by laws that apply to the ownership and registration of bee hives and compliance with industry biosecurity codes of practice. The transport and cross border movement of livestock including queen bees must comply with state and territory transport, quarantine and biosecurity legislation, regulations and codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Establish breeding stock and obtain requirements for queen bee rearing | 1.1 Select and obtain queen bee breeding stock according to breeding program 1.2 Identify health and safety hazards, risks and implement controls according to workplace requirements 1.3 Select, fit and use personal protective equipment 1.4 Select and safely use tools and equipment required to rear queen bees 1.5 Confirm site quarantine and other biosecurity protocols and ensure that they are followed |
2. Assess condition of colonies and nurse bees and prepare queen cups with larvae | 2.1 Ensure hives and colonies used for queen bee and drone production are in a clean and healthy condition 2.2 Select larvae from the breeder queen bee cells for grafting according to specification 2.3 Select and prepare queen cups according to workplace procedures and production method 2.4 Transfer larvae from worker cells into queen cell cups according to workplace procedures 2.5 Ensure an adequate number of nurse bees are present in cell raising colonies |
3. Establish and monitor the queen mating process | 3.1 Transfer ripe queen cells into the nucleus after grafting according to workplace procedures 3.2 Provide drones during mating period according to workplace standards and specifications 3.3 Monitor and maintain hives in a healthy pest and disease free condition 3.4 Maintain records of grafting and queen rearing activities according to workplace procedures |
4. Package queen bees for transport | 4.1 Select type of queen cage suitable for transport according to workplace procedures and method of production 4.2 Capture mated queen bee and transfer to queen cage supported by young escort bees according to cage type and workplace procedures 4.3 Ensure queen cage is stocked with food and secured for transport 4.4 Prepare package with queen bee cage and contents according to transport method and according to workplace and transport company procedures |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill | Description |
Reading | Interpret queen bee breeding procedures and specifications to determine requirements |
Writing | Accurately record and complete workplace documents and using clear language and correct spelling, grammar and terminology |
Navigate the world of work | Take responsibility for following policies, procedures, legislative requirements and industry codes of practice relevant to queen bee rearing |
Get the work done | Take responsibility for planning, sequencing and prioritising tasks for queen bee production |
Sectors
Beekeeping (BEK)