Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of inspecting a honey bee colony for indicators of disease or evidence of pests, and taking appropriate follow-up action and defines the standard required to: inspect hive and colony for signs of disease and ill thrift; identify key signs and symptoms of disease and pests that may affect brood or adult honey bees; undertake remedial action to ensure colony is maintained in healthy and productive condition for intended use.

Application of the unit 

This unit relates to managing pests and disease within a honey bee colony. Beekeepers may be working by themselves or as part of a small team. Work may be performed in a workshop or similar facility or in the field. Work is likely to be undertaken with limited supervision. The standard requires a broad range of knowledge about honey bee health and nutrition, as well as skills in handling and working with bees.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare to check brood

1.1. Suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is selected and checked prior to use.

1.2. Tools and equipment required to open a hive are selected and checked prior to use.

1.3. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards associated with opening a hive are identified and actions are taken to minimise risk to self and others.

2. Assess health and condition of brood

2.1. Brood is inspected for signs of disease and, where notifiable disease is observed, appropriate authorities are notified as required by legislation and appropriate action is taken.

2.2. Brood is inspected for evidence of pests and parasites and, where found, appropriate action is taken and appropriate authorities are notified as required by legislation.

2.3. Signs of disease or pest are identified, appropriate samples for testing are collected, and evidence is gathered to support a diagnosis according to relevant standards and protocols.

2.4. Hive is inspected for signs of diseased brood being ejected from hive at entrance or bottom board.

3. 3 Assess health and condition of adult bees

3.1. Flight paths around hive entrance are observed for signs of poor or irregular flight patterns, and for dead or dying bees at hive entrance.

3.2. Adult bees and brood combs are observed for signs of disease and, where notifiable disease is present, appropriate authorities are informed as required by legislation and appropriate action is taken.

3.3. Signs of disease or pest are identified, appropriate samples for testing are collected and evidence is gathered to support a diagnosis according to relevant standards and protocols.

3.4. Biosecurity measures are implemented according to enterprise biosecurity plans and instructions from appropriate authority.

3.5. Results of inspections and any remedial action taken are recorded and used as the basis for future beekeeping operations.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• identifying pests and diseases
• inspecting broods
• preparing supplementary feeds
• reporting signs of notifiable diseases
• requeening a colony
• taking samples
• transporting colonies
• using PPE
• working safely around bees
• use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, follow sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legible information collected and select and apply procedures for a range of tasks
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning techniques, active listening, clarifying information and consulting with supervisors as required
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• mode of spread of pests/diseases and level of risk to beekeeping
• signs of endemic and exotic disease and pests of honey bees and treatments
• where relevant, non-allowable inputs for organic honey production.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• inspect hive and colony for signs of disease and ill thrift
• identify key signs and symptoms of disease and pests that may affect brood or adult honey bees
• undertake remedial action to ensure colony is maintained in healthy and productive condition for intended use.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Diseases, pests and parasites may include:

• the range of diseases, pests and parasites affecting brood and adult bees.

Unit sector 

Beekeeping

Co-requisite units 

Competency field