Large sellers and backyard beekeepers are still reporting slow growth and while the weather conditions don’t seem bad at all we’re still seeing many colony deaths and possibly the worst year so far for losses. Most deaths appear to be Tetragonula hockingsi which aren’t native to the Brisbane area though many Tetragonula carbonaria have declined as well.
Some colonies are very healthy and are at the perfect stage to split but with all these declining colonies I’d take the cautious approach.
There’s no point splitting if one colony dies.
My general advice for the moment is not to split and keep your colony strong.
It’s better to keep the colony strong for the moment, especially if it’s Th. Even if you don’t split at all and wait another year that wouldn’t be so bad.
*Experienced beekeepers will have their own strategies.
