Articles

A beginner’s guide to queen spotting, and marking the queen bee in your hive.

When we hear about bees most of us think of honeybees (Apis mellifera) but there are many more bees around us.

Want to start beekeeping? Here are five reasons why it’s a great hobby – plus some tips from Ecrotek to help you get going.

Ecrotek runs through the pros and cons of plastic or wooden beekeeping gear. Read on and find out more about choosing the right frames and material for your bee hive.

​The matriarch of the hive, an egg laying machine, the mother and surrogate father to all the workers and drones, and a creature of true beauty.

Many Kiwi beekeepers start out as hobbyists, with one or two hives in a back garden or on a rural property, then make the jump to selling honey and beekeeping full time.

If you’re not a beekeeper, you probably don’t think about honeybees all that much. They might be annoying when you’re out in the garden, but that’s about it. But, whether you keep bees or not, honeybees actually have a huge impact on the food you eat, the clothes you wear, and the world you live in. And they’re facing the threat of extinction right now.

After a long, cold winter, we’re all looking forward to spring – and bees are no different. As the days get warmer and blossoms appear, bee behaviour starts to change in preparation for a busy summer of honey production. If you’ve left your hive to its own devices during winter, it’s time to do a comprehensive inspection and make sure all is well. Then there are a number of jobs that need to be done early in the season, to keep your colony in good condition throughout spring and summer.

The powerful health benefits associated with manuka honey have made it a huge success story for New Zealand exporters. Manuka’s cousin, kanuka, is far less famous – but may be equally beneficial.