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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare to catch a swarm of honey bees
   • Obtain equipment required to collect a swarm of honey bees and confirm it is in good repair and serviceable for use
   • Check personal protective equipment (PPE) for serviceability and use and wear correctly
   • Identify work health and safety hazards associated with collecting bee swarms and take action to deal with them effectively
   • Observe site quarantine or other biosecurity protocols
   • Identify risks associated with collecting a swarm of honey bees and take actions to minimise likelihood and consequences of risks
2. Collect a swarm of honey bees
   • Place dry drawn frames in hive box for collected swarm to ensure it remains in new hive box
   • Catch swarm by shaking it into an empty box
   • Move boxed swarm to new location after confirming that whole swarm has been collected
   • Keep swarm separate from other hives to monitor hive health and disease-free status
   • Re-queen a swarm
3. Manage swarming behaviour in a honey bee colony
   • Monitor honey bee colony for signs that swarming may occur
   • Consider a range of control options if swarming appears likely to occur, and select and implement the best option
   • Monitor colony to ensure that swarming behaviour has been controlled and if necessary, implement further control options

Range Statement

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Performance Evidence

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

correctly wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)

communicate with members of the public and/or owners or managers of the property/area from which a swarm is being collected

collect a swarm of honey bees

implement a range of control options to manage swarming behaviour in honey bees

interpret bee behaviour and handling bees

use specialist equipment.

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

principles and practices of managing swarms

why and when honey bees swarm

why swarms are collected

signs that a colony is about to swarm

management techniques that can be used to manage a colony that is showing signs it is about to swarm

biosecurity protocols

diseases that occur in honey bees

signs of brood disease and wax moth infestation in a swarm once it has been placed in a hive

when and how to requeen a swarm that has been collected.

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