This movie shows the basic split procedure as interpreted by me of the Austroplebeia symei species of stingless bee. It has been housed in a Tom Carter box, and has done very well with good stores. The brood conveniently splits leaving some attached under the separating floor of the top box, and the remnant in the base of the bottom box. Both sections of the colony end up with good stores from which to rebuild.. Austroplebeia symei is one of the less common kept species of stingless bees in Australia, yet it is a very vigorous, very productive and very peaceful worker. It is a good bee to keep. It is very difficult to find colonies, so propagation becomes very important.
