Buzz over BeeBox

The tool is the first of its kind in the world, using satellite imagery to help predict where and when eucalypt trees will flower.

Most Australian beekeepers rely on flowering eucalypts and locate their hives in state-owned eucalypt forests.

Eucalypts are highly adapted to Australian conditions but their flowering cycle is complex with most species only flowering every two, three or four years.

BeeBox can be accessed free from a home or mobile device.

Developer Jona-than Arundel, from the University of Melbourne, said satellite imagery has been used to predict eucalypt growth cycles across south-eastern Australia for a decade.

‘BeeBox has the potential to considerably cut their costs ” especially fuel costs ” by allowing them to make better informed planning decisions and moving their hives less.’

BeeBox can be accessed at www.sider oxylon.com.au/beebox