ENVIRONMENT

Varroa Mite is now in our region

Honeybees have played an important role in Australia’s food security, ever since they were successfully introduced in 1822. Bees are vital as they are responsible for pollinating around onethird of Australia’s food crops. However, a new arrival – Varroa Mite – threatens our honeybees, the honey industry and the production of our food crops, potentially causing an annual $6B loss to agribusiness, and threatening to increase food prices.

Australia was the last continent free of the Varroa Mite until it was detected in Newcastle, NSW, in June 2022, where a devastating eradication program began. Many beekeepers lost their hives and their livelihoods. Just 15 months later, the mite numbers reached a tipping point where management of the pest became the accepted way forward. Today, education in best practice and chemical treatments are available to anyone with a hive through workshops and support from Qld Development Officers.

The destructive power of the mite and its capacity to reproduce in huge numbers should not be underestimated. The scale of these mites in a hive equates to plate sized ticks in our homes, that multiply exponentially. They feed on the larvae and attach themselves to adult bees. The mites are now in our region, therefore it is mandatory for all beekeepers, whether you have 1 hive to thousands, to monitor hives and report any activity to Biosecurity Qld by calling BEE 123.

The Qld Department of Primary Industries (DPI) website shows areas of infestation and is updated daily. Greater detail down to property addresses and beehive movements are available on the site. The DPI has put a lot of effort in getting this information to the public. The situation is serious. Visit:t.ly/ldtm8.

Janet Millington