The Journal of the Victorian Apiarists' Association
Andrew Wootton 
Dear Members, As I write this, it’s that time again when we reflect on the year just past while putting in place plans for the year ahead. And right in the centre of all this, we find ourselves in the middle of a dinki-di honey flow. Across Victoria, beekeepers have been doing what we do … Read more
15/1/2026 – I have been away for a break two very hot days I have noticed scorched leaves on Eucalypt trees in exposed positions. Fortunately, locally the Red Gum has yielded heavily where it has been well budded, and has lingered on. Most days the scales recorded 1.6 to 3 kgs weight gain, but a … Read more
Andrew Wootton First the bad news I wrote of the dangers of miticide resistance developing in Australia in December’s ABJ.[1] Alarmingly, resistance to Bayvarol has already been reported from NSW in the AHBIC News of 11th February[2] and now on the 27th February, a further occurrence in Queensland is announced.[3] With the NSW mites, pyrethroid … Read more
An emergency permit has been issued for Aluen CAP, an oxalic acid treatment which is applied using cellulose strips. There are no temperature limitations listed for this treatment and it can be used when honey supers are present. The treatment period is 42 days. The treatment level is four strips per eight to ten frame … Read more
Reported positive Varroa mite tests represented by the yellow “present” hexagons on the BeeMAX Varroa map https://bees.agriculture.vic.gov.au/Public/Varroa are now joining up across Bendigo showing that Varroa is fairly widespread throughout Bendigo, surrounding districts in late January 2026 and, in my apiary. Either you have Varroa and have found it, have Varroa and don‘t know it, … Read more
First Published in the American Bee Journal August 2025 By Randy Oliver, ScientificBeekeeping.com What is it with us beekeepers? On one hand we love invasive non-native weeds (so long as they produce nectar), but we dread having a neighbor with a swimming pool. How Can We Not Love Swimming Pools? In California during the summer, … Read more
(Beyond Pesticides, January 29, 2026) A study of ecotoxicity risk from neonicotinoid insecticides, published in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, finds that chemicals in this class of pesticides, particularly dinotefuron, increase the body temperature of Apis mellifera (European honey bee) and subsequently accelerate the translocation (movement) of contaminants into hives by the honey bees. The research … Read more
NQI’s Future In Instrumental Insemination By John Kennedy In the US the Northern Queen Initiative (NQI) is seeking additional funding or sponsorship from individual beekeepers as they point out that ―strategic investment in queen breeding technology is vital for the future of sustainable beekeeping‖. NQI points out that in North America honey bee colonies face … Read more
Happy New Year, wishing you a great year in your beekeeping. The next Bendigo branch meeting is on Wednesday the 4th of February at the Lakeside Hotel 286 Napier Street Bendigo. Meeting from 7pm and meals from 6pm, please email Peta bbvaasecretary@gmail.com if you are having a meal, by the first Monday of the month. … Read more
