Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 12:46 PM AWST
22/07/2026 12:46 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Re-queen a honey bee colony
Re-queen a honey bee colony
Unit of competency
National Code
AHCBEK303
AHCBEK303
State Code
BAT74
BAT74
TGA Status
Current
Current
DTWD Status
Approved
Approved
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
12/01/2017
Field of Education
050105 - Animal Husbandry
Original Release Date
12/01/2017
Nominal Hours
30
Description
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to locate and remove a queen from a hive and introduce a new queen into an existing honey bee colony.The unit applies to beekeepers who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources and to solve problems.State and territory legislation, regulations and local government by-laws apply in some jurisdictions to beehive ownership and compliance with biosecurity codes of practice.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Identify requirements for re-queening a colony
- 1.1 Assess the current queen performance against workplace specifications
- 1.2 Monitor colony for signs that indicate queen replacement is necessary
- 1.3 Determine the need and method for re-queening
2. Prepare to re-queen a colony
- 2.1 Identify health and safety in the workplace hazards and risks and apply appropriate controls associated with manipulating honey bee brood
- 2.2 Select, ensure serviceability, fit and use personal protective equipment
- 2.3 Select tools and equipment required for re-queening operations and ensure serviceability
- 2.4 Identify and obtain replacement queen to meet workplace specifications and biosecurity requirements
- 2.5 Store replacement queen and escort worker bees in appropriate conditions and monitor until re-queening is undertaken
- 2.6 Assess the condition and health of replacement queen
- 2.7 Monitor hive condition and environment to ensure re-queening occurs under optimum conditions
3. Introduce replacement queen bee
- 3.1 Open hive and conduct manipulations re-queening operations according to method selected
- 3.2 Locate queen bee to be replaced in the hive and remove
- 3.3 Introduce queen to hive according to selected method and workplace procedures
- 3.4 Allow time for queen and colony to adjust and stabilise according to workplace procedures
4. Monitor progress of a replacement queen bee
- 4.1 Monitor the hive for acceptance of replacement queen bee by colony according to workplace procedures
- 4.2 Monitor replacement queen bee for evidence of egg laying and adequate levels of hatching
5. Update and maintain apiary records
- 5.1 Confirm legislative and workplace procedures for record keeping
- 5.2 Update apiary records for re-queening activities according to workplace procedures, legislative and biosecurity reporting requirements
No information
No information
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D6681 | AHCBEK303A | Re-queen a honey bee colony | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEG0 | AHC31818 | Certificate III in Beekeeping | Qualification |
| BDC0 | AHC32016 | Certificate III in Beekeeping | Qualification |
| BJS5 | AHC31824 | Certificate III in Beekeeping | Qualification |