30/06/2022
******VARROA DESTRUCTOR MITE******
******LENGTHY POST******
Hello all. You may have heard recently about the discovery of the Varroa Destructor Mite in Honey bee Hives in the Newcastle region of NSW in the last week.
This is a post to explain the seriousness of this “outbreak” and the consequences of it, as I understand it. I am by no means an expert on this subject, just a concerned beekeeper who is following the events closely as it unfolds.
What is the Varroa Mite?
The Varroa mite is considered the most serious of honey bee pests worldwide. The mite is small, but visible to the naked eye when mature, is reddish-brown in colour and is parasitic. It feeds on the bodily fluids of mature and baby bees (larvae/pupae). Besides weakening the bees, the Varroa mite transmits numerous viruses which causes many problems, including deformities, compromised flight, reduced weight and weakness. If not treated a hive will eventually weaken and then die. It spreads rapidly by hitchhiking on infected bees, who “drift” into, or “rob” unaffected hives. The mite can also easily spread amongst bees by moving from one bee to another whilst they are collecting pollen from flowers and may even be able to spread through other pollen collecting insects.
How did the mite get here?
Australia was the last habitable continent on earth where the Varroa Destructor mite was not present. The major threat (vector) was from international shipping, ie container ships, which can have hidden feral bee hives onboard. Once the ship pulls into a new port, the bees would naturally fly (up to 10km) to forage for pollen and nectar, which they had not been able to do for the time they were at sea. At this point you would have the risk of hitchhiking Varroa mites on the feral bees transferring across to our honey bee populations.
How was the mite discovered?
The DPI (Department of Primary Industries) maintains “Sentinel hives” near Australian shipping ports. The hives are positioned so that they would be the first to be infected with the mite, if a ship with an infected feral hive came into the port. These hives are checked regularly for infection.
On 22 June 2022, Varroa mite was detected at two properties in Mayfield and Mayfield West, City of Newcastle. It is not reported if these were “sentinel” hives or privately managed hives.
As at 26 June 2022, Varroa mite had also been detected at several properties across New South Wales, including Seaham and Buladehlah, and it is suspected to be present at several other properties across New South Wales.
What is the possible consequence to the Australian Bee Keeping Industry?
It is estimated that the cost to the beekeeping industry annually will be upwards of 70 million dollars annually. I personally believe this is a conservative estimate.
At a beekeepers level it will mean greater difficulty in maintaining the health of hives, greater hive loss and more than likely the need to use pesticides internally in hives to control mite populations.
What is the possible consequence to Native Bees In Australia?
At this point there is no evidence to suggest that the mite will affect any of our 2000+ native bee species. In fact, if the mite greatly reduces Australia’s introduced honey bee population (which are introduced, not native) it may end up being beneficial to the natives as there is less competition for resources.
What is being done now to mitigate the Varroa threat?
The Biosecurity (Varroa Mite) Emergency Order 2022 (No3) has been issued by the DPI. For specifics and updates please visit the DPI website. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au
In summary the Order has put in place 4 zones which radiate out from infected hive sites. They are as follows:
Eradication Zone (within 10km of infected hive site). Beekeepers within this zone must notify the DPI of their amount of hives, location and any feral bees they are aware of. Beekeepers must not remove honey or honey comb from hives. Beekeepers must not transport any apiary equipment into or out of this zone. The hives within this zone need to be sealed and destroyed as defined by the Order.
Surveillance Zone (10-25km). Beekeepers within this zone must notify the DPI of their amount of hives, location and any feral bees they are aware of. Beekeepers must not remove honey or honey comb from hives. Beekeepers must not transport any apiary equipment into or out of this zone.
Notification Zone (25km-50km) Beekeepers within this zone must notify the DPI of their amount of hives, location and any feral bees they are aware of.
General Emergency Zone (50km-NSW borders) Although not a requirement, Beekeepers are urged to check/update their hive registration details at the DPI website.
ALL ZONES (NSW)
(1) A person must not move a bee or bees into, out of or within the Varroa mite general emergency zone, Varroa mite eradication emergency zone, Varroa mite surveillance emergency zone or Varroa mite notification emergency zone.
(2) A person may move bees to undertake a surveillance action and the bees remain on the same premises
(3) A person must not move a hive into, out of or within the Varroa mite general emergency zone, Varroa mite eradication emergency zone, Varroa mite surveillance emergency zone or Varroa mite notification emergency zone.
(4) A person in charge of premises must not allow another person to move a bee or bees onto those premises.
(5) A person must not accept or receive a bee or bees that have been moved by another person.
Notifications may be made by telephone to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881 or by email to [email protected].
I am not a beekeeper. But I love bees. What can I do to help?
Under the Biosecurity Emergency Order, bees located within NSW cannot be moved at all. It is ABSOLUTELY vital this is carried out by all beekeepers.
If you see a hive(s) being moved anywhere within NSW or moved out of NSW, please remember as much information as you can, (ie approx. how many hives, location, direction headed, vehicle type and registration, description of persons involved. Take photos if possible. Pass that information onto the DPI and NSW Police. Beekeepers will mostly move their hives at night, usually on a flatbed truck or in a trailer.
If this mite becomes endemic to Australia, please continue to purchase honey from your local beekeeper. It’s the little guys who will need the greatest help to continue producing that natural raw honey you have come to love!
