Includes 3 Free Bonus Items There's nothing quite like the moment you receive your first package of live bees, a buzzing, vibrant colony in your hands, ready to be installed into a new hive and begin the journey of building, foraging, and producing honey. Our Live Italian Package Bees are the ideal way to start a new hive or expand your existing apiary, giving you a healthy, ready-to-install colony with a mated queen sourced from robust, gentle, productive stock. Each package contains approximately 1.2kg (3 lbs) of Italian honey bees plus a mated Italian queen, enough to establish a thriving new colony or strengthen an existing one. Every package now includes three free bonus items: diatomaceous earth powder, an entrance reducer, and 2 varroa treatment strips, giving your bees the best possible chance to thrive during 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 the welfare of the bees themselves. This product is available for pickup only at our Granville, NSW showroom, next to Clyde train station. If you're located outside NSW, call us on 1300 692 766 to discuss alternative arrangements 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 for safe transport Free diatomaceous earth for natural, chemical-free pest control Free entrance reducer to protect the new colony from robbing and pests Free varroa treatment strips (2), enough for one complete hive treatment Why the Free Bonus Items Matter A new colony of 10,000 to 12,000 bees is small compared to an established hive, and can't yet defend a full-size entrance or fend off varroa on its own. The entrance reducer narrows the opening to a defensible width during establishment, the varroa strips give immediate mite protection over 6 to 10 weeks, and the diatomaceous earth provides ongoing, chemical-free control against ants and small hive beetle. Why Italian Bees? Italian bees (Apis mellifera ligustica) are the most widely kept honey bees in the world, known for a gentle temperament, strong honey production, and excellent adaptability across Australian climates. They're forgiving, recover from setbacks quickly, and are a favourite first colony for beginners and experienced beekeepers alike. Package Bees vs Nucleus Colonies Package bees arrive as loose workers and a queen with no comb or brood, more affordable and easier to transport, letting you start fresh with clean equipment. Nucleus colonies come with established frames of brood and comb, faster to establish but at a higher cost. What Do I Need Before Pickup? A prepared hive with frames and foundation, a beekeeping suit and gloves, a smoker and hive tool, a bee feeder, sugar syrup or fondant, and a sheltered hive location with morning sun and afternoon shade. Don't Have a Hive Yet? Add the OZ ARMOUR Brood Box An OZ ARMOUR single full-depth brood box is available as an optional add-on, giving your new package bees a proper home to settle into from day one. It's fully assembled and painted white, made from 22mm New Zealand pine, 3mm thicker than the standard 19mm used in most imported hives, for better insulation and greater resistance to warping through Australian temperature extremes. The exterior is UV and water-resistant, while the interior stays unpainted natural pine, which bees settle into more readily. A single brood box is exactly right for a new package colony, giving bees a focused space to draw comb and build their brood pattern before they're ready for more room. The box comes complete with a lid and an upgraded wax-dipped mesh bottom board with beetle trap, which does double duty: bees naturally herd small hive beetles toward the floor, where they fall through the mesh into a removable tray filled with diatomaceous earth, and the same mesh lets dropped varroa mites fall through for simple, disruption-free mite counts. The wax-dipping treatment means no painting or recoating, ever. Available in 8-frame or 10-frame sizes, with wax-embedded frames available at checkout if you'd rather not spend hours preparing your own. Specifications: Package Bees Contents: Approx. 1.2kg (3 lbs) of bees + 1 mated Italian queen Breed: Italian honey bees (Apis mellifera ligustica) Bee count: Approximately 10,000 to 12,000 worker bees Free bonus items: Diatomaceous earth, entrance reducer, 2 varroa treatment strips Pickup location: Granville, NSW showroom Pickup timing: 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, knot-free, dimensionally stable Lid: Included Bottom board: Wax-dipped mesh with beetle trap, maintenance-free Frame options: Without frames OR with wax-embedded frames (choose at checkout) Sizes: 8-frame or 10-frame Langstroth Lifespan: 15 to 20+ years with basic care
