Articles

​Honey seems so natural and wholesome that it’s difficult to imagine it causing harm. But if your honey is contaminated with another natural substance – tutin – it can be toxic to humans, causing nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and even death.

If your bees seem unusually aggressive, Ecrotek explains why it might be happening – and what you can do about it.

Get to know your queen bee and why she’s important. Learn how she mates, manages her colony and lives her lifecycle – from Ecrotek.

Organic food is made without using chemical pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics or other artificial chemicals during production. Organic fruit growers don’t spray their trees or vines, using natural methods to control insects on their produce. Organic meat and dairy farmers don’t use antibiotics or artificial hormones to speed up animal growth. For many proponents, the organic concept extends into the overall management of the farm or orchard as well – they tend to take a slower, natural approach to crop or animal management, with a focus on caring for their charges rather than profit.

What to look for when you open your hives

Common, contagious bee parasite Nosemosis can contaminate hives. Ecrotek outlines symptoms and how you can prevent it harming yours.

Can’t find a local beekeeping club to join? Here’s Ecrotek’s guide on where to start setting up your own.

Bees are more than cute, busy little honey-makers. If honeybees become rare or extinct, no longer having honey will be the least of our problems – more than a third of our food crops rely on bee pollination, so our diets would be significantly reduced. In 2006 and 2007, record losses of bee colonies struck fear into the hearts of farmers and environmentalists. It was a low point for the worldwide bee population, and it triggered a closer look at the reasons for bee decline. Although there are a number of reasons for dwindling bee populations, pesticide usage is a major factor. Many commercial pesticides have an impact on bee health, and some are particularly harmful. When individual bees die or lifespans are reduced, the colony can weaken and eventually fail. In New Zealand, the Environmental Protection Agency sets strict rules around pesticide use to minimise harm to bees – and our bee population is relatively robust as a result. Protecting bees takes constant work from farmers, protection agencies, beekeepers, and even gardeners – but it’s worth the effort.

For beginner beekeepers, beehive positioning may not seem that important. Many newbies simply pop their brand new hive in a flat spot, without considering how temperature, wind exposure, damp, and even direction might affect their bees.​​