Assessor Resource

AHCBEK407A
Rear queen bees

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit applies to those who rear queen bees to produce high quality queen bees and queen cells through the application of good management practices.

This unit covers rearing queen bees and defines the standard required to: select breeding stock according to established breeding program criteria; graft larvae of suitable age; assess and maintain nutrition and health of larvae and drones; maintain records.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

select breeding stock according to established breeding program criteria

graft larvae of suitable age

assess and maintain nutrition and health of larvae and drones.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

identifying hazards and implementing safe work practices

grafting

handling the hive

recognising diseases, pests and disorders and taking appropriate action

use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, develop sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of tasks

use oral communication skills / language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures and data

use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

basic knowledge of the principles of inheritance of bee characteristics

signs of brood and adult bee ill health sufficient to recognise diseases, pests and disorders and take appropriate

techniques and timing for queen cell production

storage requirements of queen bees

optimum conditions for requeening

OHS and animal welfare requirements.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Stock may include:

breeding stock from instrumentally inseminated stock

stock mated in an isolated area

select tested

stock selected according to established breeding program criteria.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Breeding stock is selected from productive healthy stock according to established breeding program criteria. 
All tools, equipment and other requirements needed to rear queen bees are obtained and confirmed as being in good repair and serviceable for use. 
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is checked for serviceability and worn and used correctly. 
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards associated with rearing queen bees are identified and action is taken to minimise them. 
Any site quarantine or other biosecurity protocols in force are observed. 
All hives and colonies used for queen bee and drone production are confirmed as being in clean and healthy condition. 
Day-old larvae from the breeder queen bee are selected for grafting and transferred from worker cells into queen cell cups. 
Adequate numbers of nurse bees are confirmed as being present in cell raising colonies. 
Grafted cells are placed into cell starting colonies and then into cell finishing colonies. 
Ripe queen cells are transferred into the nucleus 10-11 days after grafting. 
Adequate numbers of mature, well nourished and genetically suitable drones are provided during mating period. 
Details of grafting and subsequent placement of cells into nucleus colonies are recorded according to enterprise standards. 
Age of the queen removed from mating colony is recorded. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCBEK407A - Rear queen bees
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

AHCBEK407A - Rear queen bees

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: