Includes 3 Free Bonus Items There's nothing quite like the moment you receive your first package of live bees, a buzzing, vibrant colony ready to be installed into a new hive. Our Live Italian Package Bees are the ideal way to start a new hive or expand your apiary, giving you a healthy, ready-to-install colony with a mated queen from robust, gentle, productive stock. Each package contains approximately 1.2kg (3 lbs) of Italian honey bees plus a mated Italian queen. Every package now includes three free bonus items: diatomaceous earth powder, an entrance reducer, and 2 varroa treatment strips, giving your bees the best chance to thrive in their critical first weeks. Pickup begins late October 2026 at our Granville, NSW location. Important: NSW Pickup Only Live bees cannot be shipped due to Australian biosecurity regulations and bee welfare. This product is pickup only at our Granville, NSW showroom, next to Clyde train station. Outside NSW, call 1300 692 766 to discuss alternatives or check QLD availability. What's in a Package of Bees? Approximately 1.2kg of worker bees, typically 10,000 to 12,000 bees A mated Italian queen, ready to lay as soon as she's introduced Sugar syrup feed and a ventilated wooden travel cage Free diatomaceous earth, entrance reducer, and 2 varroa strips Why the Free Bonus Items Matter A new colony of 10,000 to 12,000 bees can't yet defend a full entrance or fend off varroa alone. The entrance reducer narrows the opening during establishment, the varroa strips give protection over 6 to 10 weeks, and diatomaceous earth provides ongoing, chemical-free pest control. Why Italian Bees? Italian bees (Apis mellifera ligustica) are the most widely kept honey bees in the world, known for a gentle temperament and strong honey production, a forgiving favourite for beginners and experienced beekeepers alike. Package Bees vs Nucleus Colonies Package bees arrive as loose workers and a queen with no comb, more affordable and easier to transport. Nucleus colonies include established brood and comb, faster to establish but at a higher cost. What Do I Need Before Pickup? A prepared hive with frames and foundation, protective gear, a smoker and hive tool, a bee feeder, sugar syrup, and a sheltered hive location with morning sun and afternoon shade. Don't Have a Hive Yet? An OZ ARMOUR single full-depth brood box is available as an optional add-on. Fully assembled and painted white, made from 22mm New Zealand pine, 3mm thicker than standard imports, for better insulation and warping resistance. The interior stays unpainted for faster bee settling. The box includes a lid and wax-dipped mesh bottom board with beetle trap, letting small hive beetles fall through into a diatomaceous earth tray, and giving simple, disruption-free varroa mite counts. Available in 8-frame or 10-frame, with wax-embedded frames optional at checkout. Specifications: Package Bees Contents: Approx. 1.2kg (3 lbs) of bees + 1 mated Italian queen Bee count: Approximately 10,000 to 12,000 worker bees Free bonus items: Diatomaceous earth, entrance reducer, 2 varroa strips Pickup: Granville, NSW, late October 2026 onwards Shipping: Not available, pickup only Specifications: Optional Brood Box Type: Single full-depth brood box, assembled and painted white Timber: 22mm New Zealand pine Bottom board: Wax-dipped mesh with beetle trap Sizes: 8-frame or 10-frame Langstroth Lifespan: 15 to 20+ years with basic care
Related
Related
Related
Related