AHCBEK306
Manage pests and disease within a honey bee colony


Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to inspect a honey bee colony for indicators of disease or evidence of pests, and take appropriate follow-up action.

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.

All work is carried out to comply with notifiable disease legislation and relevant industry standards and protocols.

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 check brood

1.1 Use suitable personal protective equipment (PPE)

1.2 Use tools and equipment to open a hive

1.3 Identify work health and safety hazards associated with opening a hive and take actions to minimise risk to self and others

2. Assess health and condition of brood

2.1 Inspect hive for signs of diseased brood being ejected from hive at entrance or bottom board

2.2 Inspect brood for signs and evidence of pests and disease and, where pests or notifiable disease is observed, notify authorities and take action

2.3 Identify signs of disease or pests, collect samples for testing and gather evidence to support a diagnosis

3. Assess health and condition of adult bees

3.1 Observe flight paths around hive entrance for signs of poor or irregular flight patterns and for dead or dying bees at hive entrance

3.2 Observe adult bees and brood combs for signs of disease and, if notifiable disease is present, notify authorities and take action

3.3 Identify signs of disease or pest, collect samples for testing and gather evidence to support a diagnosis

3.4 Implement biosecurity measures

3.5 Record results of inspections and any remedial action taken and use as the basis of future beekeeping operations

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:

identify key signs and symptoms of disease and pests that may affect brood or adult honey bees

work safely around bees

report signs of notifiable diseases

take samples

take appropriate actions to eliminate or manage pests and diseases.


Evidence of Knowledge

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

principles and practices of disease management within a honey bee colony

how pests and diseases are spread and level of risk to beekeeping

the signs of endemic and exotic disease and pests of honey bees and treatments.


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)