Beehive movement relaxed as Biosecurity Queensland eases varroa mite rules
Stopping thousands of bees from starving during drought will become easier for commercial beekeepers, after authorities relaxed rules prohibiting live bees from crossing into Queensland from New South Wales.
Queensland's borders closed to travelling beekeepers when the world's worst bee parasite, Varroa destructor mite, was detected in Newcastle in June 2022.
In dry times Australia's 1,800 commercial apiarists traditionally drive hives hundreds of kilometres to chase flowering plants.
Beehives are moved long distances to help with pollination. (Supplied)
They also cross multiple state borders for crucial crop pollination work.
"The restrictions on bee movements have really impacted commercial beekeeping," Queensland Beekeepers' Association president Jacob Stevens said.
"It's really going to free up quite a bit of [nectar and pollen] resource for the commercial sector."
Jacob Stevens says monitoring hives is crucial. (ABC Rural: Brandon Long)
Biosecurity Queensland yesterday delisted Varroa destructor mite as 'a prohibited matter.'
Its varroa mite program manager, Rob Stephens, said varroa-free bees from infested areas would be allowed into Queensland, on permits, on a "case-by-case" assessment.
"We will progressively loosen restrictions and in the not-too-distant future it will be feasible for hives to start crossing the border with varroa, but not yet," Mr Stephens said.
Varroa was detected in four properties in Queensland in early March. Now 25 apiary sites are affected across the Lockyer Valley and Somerset regions.
The pest has also entered Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.
Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) chief executive Danny Le Feuvre said the mite had not been detected in the Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia or Tasmania.
Danny Le Feuvre says varroa mite is spreading quickly. (YouTube: Ag Excellence)
"There are some movements allowed into South Australia but the Northern Territory has a closed border, so does Western Australia and Tasmania to the mainland," Mr Le Feuvre said.
"They're definitely working to prevent that mite getting into those areas for as long as possible."
Monitor your hives
Authorities advised beekeepers living with varroa to monitor their hives every four weeks, rather than every 16 weeks.
Australia's recommended threshold for treatment is finding five mites for every 300 bees put through an alcohol wash test in a jar.
Mr Stephens advised using integrated pest management first to prevent mite numbers from building up.
Techniques include caging queen bees for a brood cycle to starve the mites of the eggs and larvae they need to reproduce, screening bottom boards to prevent fallen mites from re-entering hives, and using queens bred for varroa mite tolerance.
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Chemical-free varroa mite control (Kim Honan)
Mr Stephens said accessing chemicals had been harder in some areas and they were working with beekeeping supply companies to increase availability.
He said it had been "a fairly fluid situation in that a couple of new chemicals have recently been granted permits" by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
Bees infested with varroa mites. (Supplied: Australian Honey Bee Industry Council)
'Significant colony losses'
Australia has 46,000 registered beekeepers.
Mr Le Feuvre said there were about 50,000 fewer hives in the 2024-25 season and NSW beekeepers had suffered a "double blow" after a warm, wet summer.
"They're getting their bees knocked around by varroa and then small hive beetles are coming in to finish the bees off," he said.
"We are seeing significant colony losses spread across New South Wales."
Queensland remains a varroa mite biosecurity zone, meaning beekeepers must lodge the results of their surveillance via the BEE 123 online form.
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