Agricultural
29 June, 2022
Varroa Mite causes concern
An infestation of Varroa Mite in the New South Wales Hunter Valley is causing concern for beekeepers on the Darling Downs after the southern state widened the biosecurity zone for the pest to cover the whole state.
An alert was issued after the parasite, Varroa destructor, was confirmed in biosecurity surveillance hives at the Port of Newcastle.
Initially, a Varroa Mite biosecurity zone was set within a 50 kilometre radius of the Port.
The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has activated an eradication plan.
This now covers the whole state.
Beekeepers are not able to move hives or bees, no honey or honeycomb can be removed from hives, and beekeepers must advise the New South Wales DPI of the location of all hives.
Varroa Mites are considered to be the most destructive pest for the beekeeping industry.
The mites can move into hives quickly and can transfer through contact between bees.
Drone bees are known to move the mites from hive to hive.
If the pest is not treated, it will kill any bee hive it infects, including untreated and feral colonies.
Varroa Mites have infected honey bees in every major beekeeping area of the world and Australia had been an exception.
The New South Wales DPI has indicated that spread of the mite could cause losses estimated at
$70 million a year in Australia should it become established here.
The mite is not known to affect native bees - just honey bees.
