Empty Boxes and Accessories
Warning
If you are new to native beekeeping please understand that you can't buy a empty box and expect to buy bees at a later date or think that bees will come to your hive. You can do this with European honeybees but NOT with Australian Native Stingless Bees. There are lots of people out there making and selling Native Bee Boxes that will neglect to tell you this vital information.
The best way to enter the wonderful world of Stingless Bees is to buy a established colony of bees from a reputable Business. There are private sellers that no doubt have very good quality colonies for sale but my advice is to buy your first hive from a business. A good business will offer you a conditional warranty and after sales support. A business has a reputation to uphold and is also bound by certain consumer laws. A private seller on the other hand can take your money and disappear with absolutely no recourse. Even if a private seller says there is a warranty that seller is under no obligation to honour it. Private sales are Buyer Beware.
Before you buy natives bees I recommend buying and reading The Australian Native Bee Book by Tim Heard. We are stockists of Tim's excellent book and we ship it for free ! (within Australia)
Buying Empty Hives
You may choose to buy a empty hive for the following situations
If you are new to native beekeeping please understand that you can't buy a empty box and expect to buy bees at a later date or think that bees will come to your hive. You can do this with European honeybees but NOT with Australian Native Stingless Bees. There are lots of people out there making and selling Native Bee Boxes that will neglect to tell you this vital information.
The best way to enter the wonderful world of Stingless Bees is to buy a established colony of bees from a reputable Business. There are private sellers that no doubt have very good quality colonies for sale but my advice is to buy your first hive from a business. A good business will offer you a conditional warranty and after sales support. A business has a reputation to uphold and is also bound by certain consumer laws. A private seller on the other hand can take your money and disappear with absolutely no recourse. Even if a private seller says there is a warranty that seller is under no obligation to honour it. Private sales are Buyer Beware.
Before you buy natives bees I recommend buying and reading The Australian Native Bee Book by Tim Heard. We are stockists of Tim's excellent book and we ship it for free ! (within Australia)
Buying Empty Hives
You may choose to buy a empty hive for the following situations
- To split your existing hive
- To perform a duplication (eduction) or brood transfer from your existing hive
- To perform a transfer of bees from a log / water meter / rotten box etc...
- To attempt a swarm capture
Lightweight Hive (Empty- no bees) - $230.00 (including GST)
Order Code : LWH
Our "Lightweight Hive" is named for its lightweight relative to its wall thickness and volume. It is a composite of 3 different materials. The outer shell is 15 mm PVC sheet in white which gives the hive a heat reflective, waterproof maintenance free exterior. The inner hive chamber where the bees are is made from 6 mm fibre cement sheet to give a rot free environment which can both absorb and release moisture depending on relative humidity levels. Sandwiched between the inner hive chamber and the outer shell is 40 mm thick expanded polystyrene foam. Total wall thickness is a whopping 60 mm. The fitted lid is also 60 mm thick. The Lightweight Hive is tried and proven in extreme heatwave conditions in Sydney and has kept bees alive in full sun at 46 degrees with no roof or human intervention. We believe no other box has achieved this feat as yet. We are very proud to be chosen by Cumberland City Council (Sydney) to provide our Lightweight Hives for their Native Bee Program. The Lightweight Hive is a one piece box and therefore is non - splitting. Propagation is done by eduction.
Some specifications are below:
Fill out the email form in 'Contact us' using order code: LWH
Order Code : LWH
Our "Lightweight Hive" is named for its lightweight relative to its wall thickness and volume. It is a composite of 3 different materials. The outer shell is 15 mm PVC sheet in white which gives the hive a heat reflective, waterproof maintenance free exterior. The inner hive chamber where the bees are is made from 6 mm fibre cement sheet to give a rot free environment which can both absorb and release moisture depending on relative humidity levels. Sandwiched between the inner hive chamber and the outer shell is 40 mm thick expanded polystyrene foam. Total wall thickness is a whopping 60 mm. The fitted lid is also 60 mm thick. The Lightweight Hive is tried and proven in extreme heatwave conditions in Sydney and has kept bees alive in full sun at 46 degrees with no roof or human intervention. We believe no other box has achieved this feat as yet. We are very proud to be chosen by Cumberland City Council (Sydney) to provide our Lightweight Hives for their Native Bee Program. The Lightweight Hive is a one piece box and therefore is non - splitting. Propagation is done by eduction.
Some specifications are below:
- wall thickness 60 mm
- fitted lid thickness 60 mm
- 2 x professional 316 stainless steel lid clips
- hive volume 5.5 lt.
- clear viewing panel included
- 1 x drain hole with removable cotton rope wick
- 1 x vent hole with vent cap. (spare vent cap included)
- 1 x eduction port as standard (comes with blanking plug)
- 40 mm entrance flange (various colours available)
- large tapered entrance cap with stainless steel mesh
- all screws are stainless steel
- all hive joins solvent glued and screwed
- hive chamber is fully waxed
- free eduction connection kit included
- empty weight 6.5 kg
- external footprint 300 mm x 300 mm ( lid 335 mm x 335 mm )
- Note -: Honey shroud and super sold separately
Fill out the email form in 'Contact us' using order code: LWH
Still in testing - coming soon...
Vertical Splitting Hive (Empty - no bees)
Order Code: VSH (when available)
Originally designed exclusively for Austroplebeia Australis, we are now finding that Tetragonula Hockingsi and Carbonaria are filling these boxes very quickly. The hives have a white PVC outer shell for a heat reflective, waterproof maintenance free exterior. The hive chamber is 6 mm fibre cement sheet that is fully waxed. 2 removable stainless steel brood support rods are provided.
We are yet to split any of the 3 species we have in these hives but from Spring 2021 we will have a good idea how these colonies react to the splitting process. We have done numerous transfers and 6 successful all natural Hockingsi duplications into them as of June 2021. The quickest eduction went from empty box to getting brood in 13 days. We now have quite a large number of colonies ( TC, TH & AA ) in these hives now so testing will yield valid results across the 3 species. Stay tuned for updates and videos on our YouTube channel. We are continually making small improvements to these hives in response to how the bees work the box. Once the bees have finished teaching us these hives will be for sale with and without bees.
Hive specifications are below:
To order:
Fill out the email form in 'Contact us' using order code: VSH (when available)
Still in testing - coming soon...
Vertical Splitting Hive (Empty - no bees)
Order Code: VSH (when available)
Originally designed exclusively for Austroplebeia Australis, we are now finding that Tetragonula Hockingsi and Carbonaria are filling these boxes very quickly. The hives have a white PVC outer shell for a heat reflective, waterproof maintenance free exterior. The hive chamber is 6 mm fibre cement sheet that is fully waxed. 2 removable stainless steel brood support rods are provided.
We are yet to split any of the 3 species we have in these hives but from Spring 2021 we will have a good idea how these colonies react to the splitting process. We have done numerous transfers and 6 successful all natural Hockingsi duplications into them as of June 2021. The quickest eduction went from empty box to getting brood in 13 days. We now have quite a large number of colonies ( TC, TH & AA ) in these hives now so testing will yield valid results across the 3 species. Stay tuned for updates and videos on our YouTube channel. We are continually making small improvements to these hives in response to how the bees work the box. Once the bees have finished teaching us these hives will be for sale with and without bees.
Hive specifications are below:
- wall thickness : ends 21 mm, sides 36 mm
- fitted lid thickness 60 mm
- hive chamber fully waxed
- 3 mm laser cut perspex viewing panel included
- 2 x 316 stainless steel lid clips
- hive volume 3.1 lt.
- 40 mm entrance flange ( various colours available)
- 1 x vent hole with vent cap ( spare vent cap included )
- 1 x eduction port ( blanking plug included )
- 2 x stainless steel brood support rods ( removable )
- large tapered entrance cap with stainless steel mesh
- all screws are stainless steel
- all hive joins solvent glued and screwed
- external footprint 240 mm x 155 mm
- empty hive weight 3.8 kg
- free eduction connection kit included
- Note -: Honey shroud and super sold separately - currently under development.
To order:
Fill out the email form in 'Contact us' using order code: VSH (when available)
Austroplebeia Australis Observation Hives (Empty - no bees) - $385.00 (including GST)
Order Code: AAOH
Our observation hives are unique and you wont find anything else quite like them. Quality hardwood outer frame and inner hive chamber with a integrated roof and side assembly made from white PVC sheet that is rebated into the frame. No clips or latches are necessary in our proven design. 3 mm clear acrylic sheet on each side gives the perfect sectional view of these magnificent bees. We can also make a larger version for TC & TH. Email for a price. A brood transfer from a existing colony is the best way to populate these hives with Australis.
Hive Specifications are below:
- Outer frame 35 mm KD Hardwood
- Frame feet 50 mm recycled Spotted Gum
- Hive chamber - kwila
- 3 mm perspex side sheets with stainless screws
- Integrated cover - sides 15 mm PVC sheet, Roof 30 mm PVC sheet
- Volume 2.45 lt
- Vent and eduction port
- Beeswax finish
Fill out the email form in 'Contact us' using order code: AAOH
Coming Soon...
Australis Observation Hive With Bees ( Subject to availability)
Australis Observation Hive With Bees ( Subject to availability)
316 Stainless Steel Hive Clips - $ 2.20 each (including GST) (1 x clip + 3 stainless screws )
Now available in left and right handed versions if you want the latch ends of the clips to match. You do NOT need to order left and right handed clips. One type works perfectly well but IF you want the latch ends to match please order even numbers of left and right clips. If you're not bothered just order right hand clips.
Order Code: SSCR or SSCL (for left and right handed clips)
We weren't the first to miniaturise honey bee style hive clips for native beehives. That honour goes to the talented Doug Irvine. We were the first to follow Doug's lead and I'm glad we did. Well made hive clips are awesome. We have fabricated our own bending jig from plate steel and stainless steel to ensure professional standard clips are perfectly bent time after time. Order as many as you need. 2, 4 , 6 ? whatever you require. Each clip is supplied with 3 x 25mm stainless steel pan head screws and each first order comes with a screw position template.
To Order:
Fill out the email form in 'Contact us' using order code: SSCR or SSCL
Hive Roofs - $38.50 (including GST)
Order Code: ROOF
Our roofs are made from 10 mm white PVC sheet. They are a one piece roof that is heat formed to approximately 22.5 degree pitch. The roofs will give approximately 100mm overhang front and rear and approximately 190 mm side overhang on a standard 280 x 200 OATH, The roofs feature 2 mounting legs with rubber strips that will grip the lid of your hive. The legs are positioned to suit your hive so you'll need to provide the exact measurements of your hive lid to ensure a good fit.
To order:
Fill out the email form in 'Contact us' using order code: ROOF
Be sure to include the exact measurement of your hive lid
Order Code: ROOF
Our roofs are made from 10 mm white PVC sheet. They are a one piece roof that is heat formed to approximately 22.5 degree pitch. The roofs will give approximately 100mm overhang front and rear and approximately 190 mm side overhang on a standard 280 x 200 OATH, The roofs feature 2 mounting legs with rubber strips that will grip the lid of your hive. The legs are positioned to suit your hive so you'll need to provide the exact measurements of your hive lid to ensure a good fit.
To order:
Fill out the email form in 'Contact us' using order code: ROOF
Be sure to include the exact measurement of your hive lid
Entrance Caps - $ 5.50 (including GST)
Order Code : EC
We use a 40 mm entrance flange on all of our hives for numerous reasons. We have developed a professional cap with stainless steel mesh to ensure the bees can be locked up for whatever reason ( transport, swarms etc...) Our caps are made from thick walled pressure pipe and are heat formed to provide a tapered fit to the entrance flange. There is no need for dodgy caps with our cost effective professional solution.
To order:
Fill out the email form in 'Contact us' using order code: EC
Order Code : EC
We use a 40 mm entrance flange on all of our hives for numerous reasons. We have developed a professional cap with stainless steel mesh to ensure the bees can be locked up for whatever reason ( transport, swarms etc...) Our caps are made from thick walled pressure pipe and are heat formed to provide a tapered fit to the entrance flange. There is no need for dodgy caps with our cost effective professional solution.
To order:
Fill out the email form in 'Contact us' using order code: EC
The Australian Native Bee Book by Tim Heard - $35.00 (including GST)
Without doubt the most valuable resource for every Melliponist. Packed full of information with wonderful illustrations and superb photographs Tim Heard's book is the "go to" manual for keeping stingless native bees.
Order Code : BOOK
To Order:
Fill out the email form in "Contact us" using order code: BOOK
Without doubt the most valuable resource for every Melliponist. Packed full of information with wonderful illustrations and superb photographs Tim Heard's book is the "go to" manual for keeping stingless native bees.
Order Code : BOOK
To Order:
Fill out the email form in "Contact us" using order code: BOOK
