April is Sugar Shake Month

The ABA is joining forces with the DPI to help beekeepers learn how and why to perform this essential health check.

Sugar shaking is a simple test. It is quick and easy – and does not harm the bees. It will help detect varroa parasites when (not if) they arrive in Australia. So it’s really important that we all learn how to do the check now.

Amateur beekeepers, because we can keep a close watch on all our hives, could be the first to spot a varroa incursion. And that could mean the difference between Australia being able to act quickly and eliminate the deadly pests, or racing to try to contain them when they have already spread through the bee population.

You have an important role in protecting our bees — so learn to sugar shake now.

We will be demonstrating and discussing the sugar shake method at our April 2018 night meeting, see details here.

Play the video below to see Doug Somerville, Technical Specialist Bees from NSW Department of Primary Industries demonstrates how to sugar shake bees to determine varroa mite populations in a bee colony. For more information go to www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

You have an important role in protecting our bees — so learn to sugar shake now.

The club has a limited number of sugar shakes to hand out, free to members attending the meeting.
Shake, inspect, call if you suspect.

You can see more info on sugar shakes on the ABA website https://beekeepers.asn.au/sugarshake

Got Something to Contribute?

If you have a beekeeping comment or a question you’d like answered, please send us your contribution here and we will aim to include it.