{"product_id":"bumblebee-hive","title":"Bumblebee Hive","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrice includes hive and shipping (choose North or South Island)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e* Please read instructions before the Bee’s arrive*\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIMPORTANT: DO NOT DISMANTLE THE HIVE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cardboard outer box and plastic inner hive\/liner must remain assembled throughout use. Open the hive using the blue slider door only. Please read the opening instructions below before releasing the bees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGood pollination can be the difference between a garden full of flowers and one filled with fruit. Designed for home gardeners and orchardists, the Zonda Home Garden Bumblebee Hive provides an established colony of bumblebees to support the pollination of fruit, vegetables and flowers grown outdoors or under cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBumblebees are remarkably effective pollinators. Their large, furry bodies carry pollen efficiently, and they can continue working in cooler, duller and lightly unsettled conditions when other pollinators may be less active. They are particularly valuable for tomatoes, capsicums, courgettes, cucumbers, strawberries, blueberries, stone fruit and many other flowering crops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach self-contained hive is supplied with approximately 50 worker bumblebees, a founder Queen and developing brood, including eggs, larvae and pupae. A built-in bladder of sugar syrup helps sustain the colony throughout its working life, so no additional feeding or cleaning is required.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond their contribution to the garden, bumblebees are fascinating to observe as they move methodically between flowers, gathering pollen and returning to the hive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease note: This is a live product. Correct delivery details, prompt attention on arrival and careful hive placement are essential for the wellbeing of the colony. Please read all delivery, guarantee and care information before ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHOW LONG WILL THE HIVE REMAIN ACTIVE?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe colony will generally remain active for four to six weeks and may sometimes continue for considerably longer, depending on the health of the Queen and colony, the weather and the flowering food sources available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe founder Queen and worker bees will eventually die as a natural part of the colony’s life cycle. Before this happens, the hive may produce new Queens, which leave to mate, hibernate and establish colonies of their own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZonda’s four-week live-hive guarantee begins on the date the hive is dispatched. If the colony appears to fail prematurely within those four weeks, please contact Kings Seeds immediately with your order details, photographs and information about the hive’s activity. We will liaise with Zonda and arrange assistance or a replacement where applicable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe guarantee does not cover colony loss caused by pesticide or chemical exposure, incorrect placement, avoidable customer handling, or incorrect delivery information supplied with the order.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWHEN TO INTRODUCE YOUR HIVE\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHome Garden Hives are best introduced during spring or summer when there are plenty of plants in flower. They may also be used during cooler months where a suitable protected glasshouse or growing environment is available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the greatest pollination benefit, position the hive when the plants you wish to pollinate are beginning to flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003ePOSITIONING AND PROTECTING YOUR HIVE\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose and prepare the location before opening the hive. Place it:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Near the flowering crops requiring pollination.\u003cbr\u003e• In a quiet, sheltered and well-ventilated position.\u003cbr\u003e• Out of direct sunlight to prevent overheating.\u003cbr\u003e• Under protection from heavy rain and strong wind.\u003cbr\u003e• On a stable support raised above ground level.\u003cbr\u003e• Where ants cannot easily reach the hive or sugar syrup.\u003cbr\u003e• Away from busy paths and areas frequently used by children or pets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hive has a waxed outer surface that provides some protection from the weather, but it is not fully weatherproof. Place a piece of wood or another waterproof cover above the hive during wet conditions, ensuring the entrance and ventilation remain unobstructed. Do not wrap the hive in plastic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the hive arrives, place it somewhere quiet and cool in its prepared location. Allow the bees time to settle and reorient themselves before opening the entrance. Follow the supplied opening instructions carefully and do not stand directly in front of the hive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou may see a bumblebee arriving at or leaving the hive approximately every five to ten minutes, although activity naturally varies with the weather, time of day, available flowers and stage of the colony’s life cycle. Bumblebees do not swarm out of the hive like honeybees, and low visible activity does not necessarily mean the colony is unhealthy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHOW TO OPEN YOUR HIVE\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrepare the hive’s final position before opening it. Place the hive somewhere quiet, cool and sheltered, then allow the bees time to settle after their journey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeep the cardboard outer box and plastic inner hive\/liner fully assembled.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRemove the top lid only.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCut the piece of Sellotape beside the blue slider door. This tape keeps the hive securely closed during transport.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReplace the lid, making sure the entrance holes remain visible through the opening in the cardboard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStand to the side of the hive, not directly in front of the entrance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSlide the blue door fully to the left until both entrance holes are open.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDo not remove the plastic inner hive\/liner or the small black plastic flap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003ePROTECTING THE COLONY FROM SPRAYS\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBumblebees and their developing brood can be seriously harmed by insecticides, systemic pesticides and other garden chemicals. Do not apply potentially harmful sprays to flowering plants while the hive is active.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExposure to garden sprays or pesticides is not covered by the live-hive guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDELIVERY OF YOUR LIVE HIVE\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYour hive will be dispatched directly by Zonda, our specialist New Zealand supplier. Kings Seeds hive orders will generally be dispatched on Wednesdays. Dispatch may be postponed around public holidays, extreme weather or known courier disruptions to protect the colony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease check that the recipient’s name, delivery address and contact details are completely accurate before placing your order. A hive that cannot be delivered because incorrect details were supplied is not eligible for replacement under the live-hive guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo signature is required and nobody needs to be home to receive the hive. It may be left at the delivery address, so please ensure there is a cool, sheltered place away from direct sunlight where the courier can safely leave it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRural deliveries may take two to three days. Zonda monitors tracking and will contact the courier if a significant delay or delivery issue occurs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCHECKING THE HIVE ON ARRIVAL\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInspect the package promptly when it arrives. Check for:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Significant damage to the packaging or hive.\u003cbr\u003e• A wet or badly disrupted inner hive.\u003cbr\u003e• Leaking sugar syrup.\u003cbr\u003e• Signs that the internal components have been overturned or displaced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA small amount of leaked sugar syrup does not necessarily mean the bees have been harmed. Before releasing the bees, wipe any syrup from the outside of the hive with hot, soapy water. Do not dismantle the cardboard box or remove the plastic inner hive\/liner. If syrup appears to have leaked beneath the liner, keep the hive closed in a cool, sheltered place and contact Kings Seeds for guidance before handling it further.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf the hive appears badly damaged, wet or disrupted, place it somewhere cool and sheltered and contact Kings Seeds immediately. Please include your order details and clear photographs or video of the outer packaging, hive and any visible damage. Do not discard the packaging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eEND-OF-LIFE CARE AND RECYCLING\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAllow the hive to complete its natural life cycle so any remaining males or new Queens have time to leave. If one or two bees remain, carefully open the plastic inner hive and allow them to finish their life cycle naturally before dismantling it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce there is no remaining activity:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Clean hard plastic components are number 5 plastic and may be accepted in kerbside recycling. Check your local council’s guidelines.\u003cbr\u003e• Bee brood, insulating cotton, dead bees, wax pots and other organic material can be added to a home compost system.\u003cbr\u003e• The bladder wick and rigid neck should be placed in general rubbish.\u003cbr\u003e• Rinse the bladder bag, remove the rigid neck and take the remaining bag to an appropriate soft-plastic recycling point.\u003cbr\u003e• Plain brown cardboard can be composted and printed cardboard can be placed in cardboard recycling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWear gloves when dismantling and cleaning the hive, and soak plastic components in hot, soapy water before removing wax, pollen and other material.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kings Seeds NZ","offers":[{"title":"North Island","offer_id":49226058203444,"sku":"A0089.North","price":110.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"South Island","offer_id":49226058498356,"sku":"A0089.South","price":125.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0729\/0555\/6276\/files\/A0089-W_9c2cbdee-4f75-464a-a20d-6811c73fd042.png?v=1784781542","url":"https:\/\/www.kingsseeds.co.nz\/products\/bumblebee-hive","provider":"Kings Seeds NZ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}