Wayne Allen

Wayne has been keeping stingless bees for over 60 years. While the world of stingless bee keepers has been growing he has always been out there doing his thing. Wayne Allen used to cut timber for a living and it was during this time that he realised that he could collect these little bees. A down to earth sort of man and knows how to make people smile. Have a look in the videos below to learn more about him.

Wayne Allen video 2

Wayne Allen- Tips and Tricks

Covers! Coolight covers have saved my bees from many a heat wave. Don’t paint them green or the wildlife will eat them.

Transfers. Move the brood and a small amount of pollen and honey and throw the rest.

Feeding. Use a sauce bottle with stingless honey in it to help your bees through winter. Squirt a little in the top (about a teaspoon) and watch them eat it up. Repeat 4 times a day during the winter months. The less bees, the less food you need.

Eductions. If winter comes and you have no brood in your eduction the bees will abandon it.

Maybe you’re interested in the types of trees that are good for bee keeping and how to identify them. This site is helpful. https://amazingbees.com.au/australian-nectar-sources.html

How did you become interested in Stingless bees Wayne?

When I was a kid I used to grow a lot of veggies. There was one in a post in the killing pen. It was australis, it had a funnel, I used to break it off when I was 8 years old. I used to see 4 in one tree.

Can you think of a memory or story that stands out with your bee keeping?

Mick Cole came up. He said “do i need a veil or a bee suit?” I gave him a head veil. He ended up forty meters down the paddock and his face was black with bees as he ran. He came back and said “I need a suit and a veil!!!” Another time his bees got into his kids and they ran into the house and left the glass door open and they came into the house and gave them trouble. Those bees got upset at the sight of the mower, you couldn’t do anything all day.

What type of stingless bee is your favourite and why Wayne?

Hockingsi- Because they build up twice as quick as carbonaria, the brood advancing front is much better. I wouldn’t trade 5 good carbonaria for a hockingsi. They produce much more honey as well. I have carbonaria here that have been here 5 years and still aren’t full. A year and hockingsi are full.

What things do you like about your box design and what inspirations did you have?

I like square boxes, I used to have carter boxes but I like my ones are thick pine. Covers, they protect your box like it’s new. I just came up with this design because it’s simple. No dividers. Keep it simple.

Why do you believe bees are important?

The whole world needs bees. Europe lost a 3rd of theirs and it was worrying. Every garden should have one. The government should legalise a rescue scheme to collect fallen hives in state forests and national parks. Once a bushfire goes through they all are burnt. They should have bee keepers phone numbers and even if you have to pay a royalty for it.

Have you learned something recently about bees that you would wish to share?

Eduction’s, they build quicker if you have had bees in there. I am going to pour Apis wax in mine. Take brood from a wild hive and place it in. Collect quality of bees over quantity of bees.

Finally Wayne Allen what is your one piece of life advice you would share with the world?

Luck don’t come your way in life. You make your own luck in life.

Check out this recent interview with Alex Derrick who makes brackets and hive accessory’s. spicers-hollow-native-bees

Or maybe you haven’t seen Doug Irvines interview, with lots of tips and tricks on hives. doug-irvine-interview