A varroa mite outbreak, a destructive parasite that affects honey-bee colonies, has been confirmed in Victoria for the first time since the mite was discovered in NSW in 2022. NSW authorities declared varroa was endemic in NSW in September 2023 and authorities gave up trying to eradicate the pest.
The detection comes just weeks after over 200,000 bee hives were moved into Victoria’s Sunraysia region for the pollination of almond and stonefruit crops. Victorian Agriculture Minister Ros Spence stated that the situation is being managed, with Agriculture Victoria working closely with affected beekeepers to contain the spread.
The Victorian Apiarists Association president, John van Weeghel, noted that the spread of the mite to Victoria was inevitable and that it could take years for it to spread further across the state. Testing for varroa mite in Victoria is expected to increase significantly. The outbreak may lead to the decline of feral European honeybee populations, affecting backyard fruit tree pollination, which may require managed beehives for pollination.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2024-08-15/varroa-mite-parasite-detected-in-victoria/104227868
