8.1

The candidate will be able to describe:

8.1.1

the various hives commonly used in the British Isles.

8.1.2

the various frames used in the British Isles.

8.1.3

methods of fitting frames with wax foundation including wiring and embedding.

8.1.4

the use of wax foundation and its manufacture, both commercially and by home production.

8.1.5

methods of spacing frames in hives, the dimensions of frame spacing, and the effects upon the colony of the spacing.

8.1.6

a detailed account of how to begin beekeeping, including the acquisition of bees, sources of equipment and costs, and any precautions necessary.

8.1.7

all the factors involved in layout of colonies in both home and out apiaries.

8.1.8

the criteria used in the selection of out apiaries.

8.1.9

the drifting of honey bees, the problems created, and the methods used to mitigate them.

8.1.10

the principles involved in feeding honey bees, and the types of feeder, types of food, timing of feeding, and the effects of feeding on the colony.

8.1.11

the use of pollen substitutes, supplements, and their composition.

8.1.12

the principles of supering honey bee colonies, and the relationship of supering to summer queen rearing by the colony and swarm control.

8.1.13

the uses of the queen excluder and the types in use.

8.1.14

the methods of swarm control.

8.1.15

the methods of taking and hiving swarms of honey bees.

8.1.16

the principles and practice of making nuclei.

8.1.17

the methods used to build swarms and nuclei into colonies for honey production.

8.1.18

the methods used to unite colonies of honey bees and the principles underlying these methods.

8.1.19

the methods of queen rearing used by both large and small scale enterprises: including management of mating nuclei.

8.1.20

the setting up and management of colonies for drone production.

8.1.21

the principles involved in queen introduction, practical methods used, and difficulties which might occur.

8.1.22

robbing in its various forms, its prevention, dangers and control.

8.2

The candidate will be able to describe for both large and small scale enterprises in the British Isles:

8.2.1

the management of colonies to maintain good bee health.

8.2.2

the spring management of colonies.

8.2.3

ways of assessing the value of a colony for honey production or as a pollinating unit.

8.2.4

summer management, including swarm prevention and control.

8.2.5

the variation of management needed to cope with different districts, weather conditions and types of honey bee forage plants available.

8.2.6

the use of clipped and marked queens and the reasons for and methods of clipping and marking.

8.2.7

methods of moving colonies and the problems and dangers involved.

8.2.8

the management of colonies used for migratory beekeeping for both honey production and pollination services.

8.2.9

the methods used to clear bees from supers, the equipment used, and the principles underlying the techniques.

8.2.10

the preparation of colonies for winter and the underlying principles involved.

8.2.11

the storage of combs and the methods used to prevent damage.

8.2.12

the management of colonies for all types of comb honey production.

8.2.13

the economics of honey production.

8.2.14

the organisation of buildings required, site and internal layout of buildings and of equipment needed for a honey production enterprise.

8.2.15

the economics, and organisation of a pollination enterprise.

8.2.16

the economics and organisation of a queen rearing enterprise including buildings required and their layout, and the equipment needed.

8.3

The candidate will be able to give a brief description of methods used:

8.3.1

for the production of royal jelly, beeswax, propolis, venom and pollen, and the uses to which these are put.

8.3.2

for the production of honey, queens, package bees, and nuclei by overseas enterprises.

8.3.3

by overseas enterprises for the provision of honey bee colonies for pollination services.

8.4

The candidate will be able to give an in-depth account of:

8.4.1

the beekeeping appliance industry in the British Isles.

8.4.2

the marketing of honey bee queens, colonies, nuclei and package bees in the British Isles.

8.4.3

the importation of honey bee queens and honey bees into the British Isles.

8.4.4

the legislation affecting the importation of honey bees and honey bee queens into the United Kingdom.

8.4.5

the organisation and purposes of Beekeeping Associations.

8.4.6

the organisation of beekeeping Educational and Advisory services in the United Kingdom.

8.5

The candidate will be able to give an in-depth account of:

8.5.1

the history of beekeeping in the British Isles.

8.5.2

major works of beekeeping literature of the past.

8.5.3

the work of famous beekeepers and scientists in relation to beekeeping and the honey bee.