Australian beekeepers can’t tackle Varroa mite alone. Here’s how we can help
The honeybee-killing Varroa mite is marching across the country, as two experts explain.
Australia has been free from the Varroa mite, a bee-killing parasite, for decades. However, the mite was detected in eastern Australia in June 2022 and has since rapidly spread across the country. Authorities have abandoned eradication efforts, recognizing that Varroa mites are now a permanent threat to managed honeybee colonies in Australia.
The Varroa mite is a small parasite that attaches to honeybees and feeds on them, impairing their development, immunity, and behavior. These mites can also transmit various bee-killing pathogens. Varroa mites can wipe out entire colonies if left untreated, making them the primary threat to managed honeybee colonies worldwide.
In Australia, the national management program aims to bolster the industry and slow Varroa's spread. The scale of the problem varies by state, with Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory already having well-established Varroa populations. Victoria and South Australia are closely monitoring the situation and bracing for more infestations. Western Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory remain Varroa-free, and they are strengthening early detection and border monitoring efforts.
Effective Varroa management involves three key principles: monitoring, treatment, and post-treatment. Regular monitoring typically involves taking about 300 bees from a hive and washing them in alcohol or soapy water, which kills the bees but allows beekeepers to identify and count any mites. Treatment options are limited due to potential harm to bees and the mite's rapid development of resistance to chemicals.
Biotechnical strategies, which disrupt the mites' reproductive cycle or trap them for removal, can be time-consuming and may impede colony growth. Post-treatment measures include keeping colonies well-fed, reducing drifting, and placing hives further apart.
To better support beekeepers, we can offer training and mentorship opportunities, split or donate colonies to apiarists who have lost hives, listen to industry concerns, provide financial support, and protect and restore forests to ensure bees have access to nectar and pollen. However, more research is needed to understand which management strategies work best in Australian conditions.
As the last major honey-producing country to detect the Varroa mite, Australia has time to draw on global expertise and tailor strategies to our specific conditions to ensure the future of our bees and beekeepers.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
