Two years after the discovery of the Varroa destructor in sentinel hives at the Port of Newcastle, the pest continues to spread throughout New South Wales. Now, beekeepers in other states are preparing for the mite's inevitable arrival. While commercial beekeepers are primarily at risk, recreational beekeepers—numbering approximately 47,000—must also decide if they can continue their hobby in the face of the growing threat.
Varroa destructor's impact extends beyond honey production. Commercial fruit crops like apples, pears, and cherries, as well as backyard gardens and native forests, rely on feral honeybees for free pollination. With the mite spreading, these sectors may face significant challenges in the coming years.
Despite a massive biosecurity response that became the largest multi-agency plant effort in Australian history, the fight to eradicate the Varroa mite was abandoned a year ago. This response, costing $132 million and resulting in the destruction of an estimated 30,000 hives during the first year, shifted its focus from eradication to management.
Earlier this year, authorities shifted efforts to controlling and managing the Varroa mite. This parasitic mite can weaken bee colonies, kill larvae, and spread harmful viruses. It is anticipated that the pest will decimate wild European honeybee populations over the next five years, posing a serious threat to agriculture and natural ecosystems.
A two-year management plan is now in place, focusing on educating beekeepers across the country. More than 110 workshops have been organized to provide all beekeepers—whether they own a single hive or hundreds—information on best practices for monitoring and treating infestations.
Movement of hives between states remains tightly regulated to slow the mite’s spread. Despite these efforts, the Varroa mite has recently been detected in Victoria, with sightings at Nangiloc, near Mildura, after being first identified across the Murray River at Balranald and Euston during last year’s almond pollination season.
“We’re not trying to stop the spread; it’s inevitable,” said Danny Le Feuvre, chief executive of the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council. “We’re just trying to slow it down to allow beekeepers time to develop the skills they need.”
Reactions to the ongoing biosecurity measures have been mixed. Commercial beekeepers who depend on crossing state borders to pollinate crops or gather honey have largely accepted the new reality and are eager to move forward. The prospect of learning to manage the mite’s presence in their operations seems unavoidable to them.
Conversely, beekeepers who operate within state borders argue that more could have been done to halt the spread. Some believe that borders should have been closed and hive movements halted for longer periods.
One of Australia’s largest beekeeping companies, Duxton Bees, has already accepted that Varroa destructor will soon spread to all commercial hives. Duxton’s managing director, Keegan Blignaut, who has experience in New Zealand where the mite has been endemic for over 20 years, notes that most beekeepers will inevitably face this challenge.
“Our position is that we know we’re going to get it,” Blignaut explained. “The reality is, within two years, it’ll be widespread among all commercial hives unless a beekeeper operates in a very remote location.”
Beekeepers are being warned that managing Varroa infestations will require a greater workload. Monitoring hives will need to be done three times as often, and treatment will involve using chemicals that cost roughly $55 per hive each year. Smaller-scale beekeepers—those with fewer than 10 hives—will need to inspect every single hive regularly, while those with larger operations will be required to check 10% of their total.
The industry is also preparing for recurrent reinfestations until feral honeybee populations diminish. Experts suggest it could take up to five years for these wild colonies to decline significantly, during which time the workload for beekeepers will remain high.
The expectation is that the number of beekeepers may shrink as some struggle to keep up with the increased demands or choose to step away from the industry altogether. The impact is likely to be felt most acutely among hobbyist beekeepers, who represent about 250,000 hives in Australia. Many of these small-scale operators, who produce approximately 10,000 tonnes of honey annually, may not have the experience or knowledge needed to manage Varroa effectively.
“What we’ll likely see is a contraction of the industry,” Blignaut noted, highlighting the possibility of hives dying out due to poor management.
With fewer feral honeybees providing free pollination, industries that depend on these bees—such as fruit growers—will need to turn to beekeepers for paid pollination services. Crops such as cherries and apples are among the most vulnerable, and the loss of free pollination services will increase costs for these growers.
South Gippsland semi-commercial beekeeper Peter Gatehouse, who manages around 80 hives at multiple locations, predicts that he will need to reduce the number of hives he operates due to the extra work involved in managing Varroa infestations.
“From what we’ve seen overseas, it’s possible to manage Varroa,” Gatehouse said. “But the next few years will be critical as we deal with reinfestations from wild colonies. Monitoring will be essential.”
Researchers are also concerned about the impact on native ecosystems. Prof. Sasha Mikheyev, a bee scientist from the Australian National University, points out that many native forests have become reliant on feral honeybees for pollination.
“The forests have had 150 years of reliance on western honeybees at high densities,” Mikheyev explained. “We might see some significant changes in those ecosystems.”
There is a short window of opportunity to collect data on how Australian ecosystems function before the Varroa mite becomes widespread. However, funding for this research is limited, and the honeybee industry lacks the resources to support such efforts. Mikheyev emphasized that government intervention is critical in addressing this research gap.
The spread of the Varroa mite in Australia is inevitable, but the country’s beekeepers are facing the challenge head-on. The industry is bracing for significant changes as the pest continues its march across the country, and beekeepers of all scales are preparing to adapt.
With increased vigilance, new management practices, and a commitment to monitoring hives closely, the Australian beekeeping community is determined to mitigate the impact of this pest. However, the road ahead will be demanding, especially for those who lack the resources or expertise to cope with the added workload.
(18)
(53)
(511)
Help us Improve, leave your suggestions below :
