Varroa mite

Potential declines in bee populations due to varroa mite infestation could jeopardise Australian horticultural production, Rabobank says in a newly-released report ... In the report, How varroa mites might impact Australian pollinators, the bank’s RaboResearch division says this threat comes at a time when demand growth for pollination is outpacing growth in beehive numbers.

Beekeepers are being urged to check the health of their hives and be alert for unwanted pests during bee pest blitz this month ... DPIRD deputy chief plant biosecurity officer Michelle Christy said there were more than 4500 registered beekeepers in Western Australia who owned more than 53,400 hives.

Biosecurity Queensland is advising of the preliminary identification of varroa mite (Varroa destructor) for the first time in Queensland, in the Lockyer Valley. Initial samples from a recreational apiary in the Lockyer Valley have returned a positive diagnostic result for Varroa destructor.

The 2024 Australian Colony Loss Survey closes in two weeks – here’s why all beekeepers should take part. With just two weeks to go until the 2024 Australian Colony Loss survey closes, time is running out for beekeepers to let their industry know what the biggest issues facing them are.

In this interview with ARR.News, Churchill Fellow Kelly Lees shares insights from her experience with the intitial attempt to eradicate Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite of honeybees, and a little of her passion and vision for their successful management in Australia by our beekeepers who, as described by Kelly, are hard working, resilient and resourceful.

Agriculture Victoria has confirmed varroa mite has been detected for the first time in Victoria at a property in Nangiloc near Mildura. The infested hive was identified during Agriculture Victoria’s surveillance activities which are carried out each year during almond pollination. “This early detection of Varroa mite enables Victorian beekeepers to prepare and manage their hives effectively,” Dr Dibley said.

The battle to prevent Varroa Mite has entered a new phase with the National Management Group approving the Transition to Management plan to manage the invasive pest, a move one of the region’s largest beekeepers says is a step in the right direction ... “There’s been a lot more going on in the industry than just Varroa,” Steve Fuller said.

Western Australia has strong biosecurity and surveillance measures in place to protect the State's bee industry from exotic pests and diseases including the bee parasite, varroa mite ... WA undertakes State and national bee pest surveillance programs which include extensive surveillance at ports and airports, considered to be the highest risk entry points for bees and bee parasites.

Blink and you’d miss it- the Varroa mite’s minute presence is all but invisible to the naked eye. Yet the tiny mite is the greatest known threat to Australia’s honey bee and pollination industry. For nearly a year and a half the industry has been battling the tiny parasite, cumulating in the largest biosecurity outbreak in the country’s history and initiating a Federal $132 million varroa response plan.

One of the north coast’s largest beekeepers, Clarenza based Bee Services owner Steve Fuller says transitioning from eradicating Varroa mite to managing the problem was the best solution for the industry, but the full impact of the insect might not be known for two or three years.