DPIRD Situation update - 6 May 2024 The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is leading the Red dwarf honey bee (RDHB) biosecurity response. This response aims to detect and eradicate all RDHB colonies. As of April 2024, 31 active RDHB colonies have been found and euthanised, including one swarm. 16 abandoned hives have also been found. All of these colonies are confined to the industrial area on the Burrup Peninsula. The Quarantine Area (QA) remains unchanged and covers the Burrup Peninsula in the Pilbara to support the ongoing biosecurity response to eradica ..read more

AgriFutures, 30 April 2024 In a critical juncture for the honey bee industry, AgriFutures Australia in partnership with the industry’s peak national representative body, the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) is set to launch a suite of Varroa Mite (Varroa Destructor) focused resources. The suite of resources follows the completion of the Resilient Beekeeping in the Face of Varroa project, an AgriFutures Australia research initiative. The project has been a key focus for the AgriFutures Honey Bee & Pollination Program following the incursion of Varroa Destructor in June 2022 ..read more

DPIRD Media release: 18 April 2024 Specialist varroa mite development officers will work with WA beekeepers to help strengthen biosecurity measures and management to maintain healthy beehives. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has secured funding for 2.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) varroa development officers as part of the national Transition to Management Plan. Varroa mite is the most serious pest of European honey bees and was detected for the first time in Australia at the Port of Newcastle (NSW) in June 2022.  Despite an extensive 15-month eradication e ..read more

DPIRD, 19 MARCH 2024 As of early March 2024, 26 Red dwarf honey bee (RDHB) active colonies have been found and destroyed, including one swarm. 12 abandoned hives have also been found. Detections remain confined to a small section of the Burrup Peninsula, within the Quarantine Area and all colonies and abandoned hives have been found within a 2 km radius of each other. Due to the ongoing detection of RDHB, the current Quarantine Area Notice (QAN), formally gazetted on 1 September 2023, has been now extended to 30 June 2025. The Quarantine Area remains unchanged and covers the Burrup Peninsula i ..read more

AHBIC, 27 FEB 2024 Situation On 19 February 2024, Biosecurity Queensland detected a single suspect Varroa mite in one of the six sentinel hives of Apis mellifera at the Port of Brisbane. CSIRO has confirmed the mite Varroa jacobsoni and the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle, NSW, is testing for the presence of exotic honey bee viruses. The single infected sentinel hive has been euthanised and further testing and diagnostics will be conducted to confirm it is a single mite. The remaining 5 hives at the Port have undergone additional surveillance by Biosecurity Queensland, inc ..read more

Perth, 12 Feb 2024 We'd like to introduce you to Bailiwick Legal, who has helped to make the 'A Buzz with Bees' event a reality. Their trust in our organisation and year-long commitment as advisors have been instrumental in BICWA's success. We're grateful for their partnership and their significant contribution to our community. Thank you, Bailiwick Legal, for your ongoing support and dedication. Bailiwick Legal is a trusted and highly respected team with over 40 years of legal experience, specialising in commercial, contract and transactional law.  Active in both the Agribusiness and To ..read more

Perth, 8 Feb 2024   Fewster's Farm has been a long-time supporter of the WA Bee Industry. Once again, Fewster's Farm has partnered with BICWA to organise an exciting evokeAG Sideline event, 'A Buzz with Bees' on Sunday 18 February 2024. Get ready for an exclusive tour of Fewster’s Farm honey packing facility, offering a rare glimpse into the post-collection process by our busy bee workers. Tickets are still available on BICWA’s webpage – secure yours today for a unique honey experience!   Nestled in the heart of Western Australia lies Fewster’s Farm, a sanctuary for honey enthusiasts ..read more

Perth, 31 Jan 2024   The Bee Buddy is a world first inspection & extraction solution custom designed right here in Western Australia, by a hobby beekeeper whose goal is to make beekeeping safer and easier so more people will engage with this important and fascinating hobby.   Jessica Brunner is an experienced and qualified Beekeeper, a Hive Hero and a World Record Holder for Women in Beekeeping.  She designed the Bee Buddy after a series of catastrophic personal experiences early in her beekeeping journey.  After searching the Internet for months for a solution to chal ..read more

AHBIC 3 November 2023 There have been around 50 new confirmed infected premises of Varroa since the National Management Group (NMG) decision on 19th September to transition the Varroa response to management, taking the total number of infected premises to 336. These infested premises have been confirmed through a mixture of NSW DPI surveillance and beekeeper reporting, the majority have been within the ORANGE management Zones, with just 6 slightly outside these zones. No changes to the ORANGE or GREEN zones will occur. As Varroa is expected to slowly spread across the landscape, so will the n ..read more

24 October 2023 Get ready to be inspired! We're about to unveil the captivating story of Steves Queens. Buckle up for an exclusive look into their remarkable journey. BICWA is excited to introduce its newest Alliance Partner, Steves Queens. To learn more about the benefits of a BICWA membership and explore exciting exposure opportunities like this one, we invite you to visit our webpage and join us in supporting the beekeeping industry together. Meet Steve from Steves Queens, and embark on a journey that will inspire you. 'My journey into beekeeping was sparked by a blend of personal intrigue ..read more