Dreaded varroa mite detected at Newcastle Port
The Department of Agriculture has launched a full-scale biosecurity response to the detection, which threatens billions of dollars’ worth of horticultural production.
Australia’s honey bee industry is holding crisis talks after the discovery of a parasite in NSW that has been described as the biggest threat to Australian agriculture.
Varroa destructor was detected in a sentinel beehive at the port of Newcastle in northern NSW on Wednesday.
A door-to-door search for recreational and feral beehives in the vicinity of the port began today and NSW Police will be restricting movement of the beehives within a 50km radius of the port.
A national meeting has been convened by the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests and attended by state and federal government representatives as well as industry bodies including the Australian Honey Bee Industry Association.
A full-scale biosecurity response has also been launched.
AHBIC acting chief executive Danny Lefeuvre said so far varroa mite had been found in two of the six sentinal hives. All hives had been destroyed, as well as two recreational hives nearby as a precaution.
“We’re concerned, it’s something we haven’t had (in Australia). We’re the last to be free of the pest but we’re very confident based on what we know so far we have it contained,” Mr Lefeuvre said.
The mite has the potential to decimate beehives and drastically reduce the pollination capacity of the Australian honey bee industry.
Australia has been free of the pest that has caused billions of dollars of damage to agriculture worldwide.
Varroa mites could result in the collapse of the European honey bee population in Australia, which would have huge ramifications for the nation’s multi-billion dollar horticultural industry.
A task force convened to co-ordinate the movement of beehives for two years during the pandemic has reconvened in case the incursion cannot be isolated to Newcastle.
The Almond Board of Australia has been told the chances of containing the outbreak are high given it was detected early and the cool weather at this time of year.
Bee activity is lower during the colder months of the year, limiting their movement. There are also very few commercial apiarists in this area.
As part of the biosecurity response, all bee hives within a 50km radius of the detection cannot moved.
Fruit grower charged over coolroom death
A Shepparton fruit grower has been charged over the coolroom death of a truck driver.
‘Wake-up call’ for Victoria’s gardeners and farmers
Gardeners and farmers alike have been urged to remain vigilant after a noted exotic pest was detected on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula. See the details.