Beekeeper update 13 August 2022 NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) is continuing efforts in response to the Varroa mite incursion, confirmed as Varroa destructor, found in biosecurity surveillance hives at the Port of Newcastle. New Emergency Order in place The Biosecurity (Varroa Mite) Emergency Order 2022 (No.21) has now been published and has commenced.  The order includes amendments to provisions for destruction of feral bees in all zones, changes to manage feral swarms in the blue General Biosecurity Zone and changes to provisions for the movement of honey supers relati ..read more

Varroa mite has been detected in biosecurity surveillance hives at the Port of Newcastle, threatening the bee industry.  Australia is the only major honey producing country free from Varroa mite and if the mite has the chance to establish here, it could cost the honey industry more than $70 million a year. The NSW Government is urging beekeepers across the state to safeguard their industry after biosecurity surveillance detected Varroa mite in hives at the Port of Newcastle. The mites are tiny reddish-brown parasites and are easily identifiable to the trained eye.  Varroa mites can c ..read more

On 16 and 23 April 2020 the wings of Asian bees were found in the pellets from rainbow bee eater birds in the port area of Townsville. This was part of the routine collection under the National Varroa Mite Eradication Program. On 28 April 2020 a nest of Asian bees was found in the port area at Townsville. Subsequent DNA determination has shown that it is a new incursion and not related to any other Asian bees previously detected in Queensland. The nest was estimated at between 2 and 3 months old. There were 2,850 bees, no drones or drone comb and Varroa mites. Formal identification of ..read more

In a sign of the times, the death of 500million honey bees in Brazil, in the short time period of just some three months, has been linked to indiscriminate use of pesticides. This equates to the loss of some 12,500 beehives, and the deaths are not simply confined to honey bees either. Large numbers of native bees would undoubtedly also have been affected, but because little research has been done in the area, the number of species and the total number of bees affected is impossible to determine. And why? Because in moves reminiscent of the reasons behind the wildfires sweeping through the Ama ..read more

INDUSTRY NOTICE NO. 1 AHBIC has been advised by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources that a swarm of Asian bees (Apis cerana) has been found in Darwin in the suburb of Karama. A local beekeeper was called, on 13 May 2018, to collect a swarm of bees and noticed that they were most likely Asian bees and reported this to the local Apiary Officer. All bees have been destroyed including the queen. Examination has shown no presence of external mites i.e. Varroa or Tropilaelaps. Examination for internal mites is also being conducted. DNA identification will also be carried out. Northern ..read more

12 months down, 18 months to go. March 2018. As at 1 March 2018 we commenced the second year of our 30 month proof of freedom requirement as part of the Varroa jacobsoni eradication program in Townsville. So far so good. APIS CERANA AND VARROA JACOBSONI IN TOWNSVILLE – NO. 17 - 2 March 2017 In the two and half months since I last reported there have been no Asian bees found in Townsville. Under the Response Plan the eradication phase of the program ended on 28 February and we now move into the proof of freedom stage. It is anticipated that the proof of freedom stage will last for three (3) yea ..read more

There have recently been newspaper articles about Australian honey being contaminated with alkaloids. These are in effect a rehash of issues that were dealt with some 5 years ago, and are both misleading and inaccurate. A comprehensive and detailed explanation/response can be found on the Australian Honey Bee Inductry Council website. Go to http://honeybee.org.au/australian-honey-is-a-safe-natural-product ..read more

The Primary Industries Health and Safety Partnership has produced a series of videos to help raise awareness of work place health and safety for bee keepers and those who are interested in taking up the hobby. Why do bees sting? https://youtu.be/GtDD-BVuGuY?list=PLFGsRc6SOWFllxlmoOFu0KQl7eS6mARX8 What should beekeepers do to avoid being stung? https://youtu.be/3Toruss7OLY?list=PLFGsRc6SOWFllxlmoOFu0KQl7eS6mARX8 Steps to take when stung by a bee: https://youtu.be/Al1c5XU-5bo?list=PLFGsRc6SOWFllxlmoOFu0KQl7eS6mARX8 How does a smoker actually calm bees? https://youtu.be/Ueafw6 ..read more