Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to collect bee swarms and manage the swarming behaviour of bees.
This unit applies to beekeepers who take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources.
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. Prepare to catch a swarm of honey bees | 1.1 Obtain equipment required to collect a swarm of honey bees and confirm it is in good repair and serviceable for use 1.2 Check personal protective equipment (PPE) for serviceability and use and wear correctly 1.3 Identify work health and safety hazards associated with collecting bee swarms and take action to deal with them effectively 1.4 Observe site quarantine or other biosecurity protocols 1.5 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 | 2.1 Place dry drawn frames in hive box for collected swarm to ensure it remains in new hive box 2.2 Catch swarm by shaking it into an empty box 2.3 Move boxed swarm to new location after confirming that whole swarm has been collected 2.4 Keep swarm separate from other hives to monitor hive health and disease-free status 2.5 Re-queen a swarm |
3. Manage swarming behaviour in a honey bee colony | 3.1 Monitor honey bee colony for signs that swarming may occur 3.2 Consider a range of control options if swarming appears likely to occur, and select and implement the best option 3.3 Monitor colony to ensure that swarming behaviour has been controlled and if necessary, implement further control options |
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. 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.
Evidence of Knowledge
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.
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)