The Journal of the Victorian Apiarists' Association
On behalf of the Victorian Apiarists‘ Association, I acknowledge the Victorians impacted by recent bush-fires. Bushfires are an ongoing stress each summer and part of our beekeeping climate more than ever these days. To our fellow beekeepers, if you have been im-pacted by fires this summer, please reach out to us for assistance.In my region … Read more
Every summer, beekeepers ask the same question:Can I use a smoker during a Fire Danger Period—and what do I need to do to stay legal and safe?The short answer is yes, but only if you follow some very specific safety rules. These rules come from the Country Fire Authority (CFA) Act, not just from guidance … Read more
By Andrew Wootton With several varroa detections in metropolitan Melbourne and the Victorian varroa heat map looking like a Christmas pudding, we can safely assume that you either already have mites in your hive or will have this season.So it was encouraging to attend the Melbourne Section club meeting on the 29th January and see … 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
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
(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
