South Australia Reports First Ever Detection of Harmful Varroa Mite

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The highly destructive varroa mite has been detected in South Australia for the first time, prompting an urgent warning to beekeepers in the state.

A surveillance team identified the mite in a hive at Pooginook in the state’s east, with the hive believed to be part of a consignment from Queensland.

The varroa mite is a parasitic mite that feeds on honey bees, with an infestation having the ability to lead to the death of an entire bee colony.

Photographs show Apiarist Eric Whitby with his wife Enid with some bee hives near Helensburg for story on how bees in Australia are under threat by the Varroa Mite if or when it arrives in the country..Bees polinate up to 80 percent of our food chain... Ben Rushton/bgr smh.news.bees June 11 2007 — Varroa mite can wipe out an entire bee colony, causing significant economic damage. (SMH)

This has a significant impact on Australia’s honey and food production industry, with experts previously warning it could lead to losses of up to $1 billion over 30 years.

Varroa mite had previously been detected in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and the ACT, which has led to routine surveillance operations being conducted around the state to stop the spread of the dangerous pest.

South Australia has strict biosecurity to prevent the spread of varroa mite, including a requirement that imported hives must not have been within 25 kilometres of a known varroa outbreak.

Varroa destructor mite on leaf (Getty) — Strong biosecurity measures have been adopted in Australia since varroa mite was first detected in 2022. (Getty)

The Department of Primary Industries and Regions confirmed yesterday that the hives from Queensland that carried the mite met the requirements and were not sourced from the vicinity of a known outbreak.

The state government said any beekeepers who have had hives within the radius of the outbreak should contact the PIRSA Biosecurity Apiary Unit.

In addition, all beekeepers in the state are being urged to inspect their hives regularly with alcohol wash, sugar shake or sticky mat techniques.

“PIRSA’s Biosecurity Apiary Unit and Varroa Program Team, including the Varroa Development Officers (VDOs), are working closely with affected beekeepers to define the extent of the detection, slow the spread of varroa mite and help guide management practices”, a state government statement said.