Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DOWN UNDER BEEKEEPING => Topic started by: Ben Framed on February 20, 2022, 12:20:51 am

Title: Is Australia Still Varroa Free?
Post by: Ben Framed on February 20, 2022, 12:20:51 am

Is Australia still the one Continent which remains varroa free? The last I read of varroa in your country was in 2016 and the situation was handled well. All clear so far?

Phillip

Title: Re: Is Australia Still Varroa Free?
Post by: max2 on February 20, 2022, 12:58:13 am

All clear so far.

Biossecurity is on constant watch.

I don't know if varroa could be introduced via honey. In recent years honey imports have been allowed.

The reason given is " trade agreements" - personally i think this is  silly. We have no idea how SHB's got here. We know that a lot of hives were lost and I simply can't imagine the damage Varroa would create.
I'm at an age where I would probably stop beekeeping.

Title: Re: Is Australia Still Varroa Free?
Post by: Lesgold on February 20, 2022, 02:37:52 am

After reading what you guys go through with varroa, I?d be in a similar situation to max2. Beekeeping is hard enough without adding another bug to the situation. I reckon I?d drop down to about half a dozen hives  if and when varroa arrives. It must really take the fun out of the hobby.

Title: Re: Is Australia Still Varroa Free?
Post by: NigelP on February 20, 2022, 04:45:14 am

Treating for varroa is no hassle, many different ways of doing it. Some more effective than others and some more labour intensive than others, depends on your ethical view point. These days I stick miticide strips in  each hive, takes about 30 minutes and remove 6 weeks later....another 30 minutes.
I check drop counts a few months afterwards and if any seem high they get vaped with Oxalic Acid.  With a sublimox it's about 1 minute per hive.

Title: Re: Is Australia Still Varroa Free?
Post by: max2 on February 21, 2022, 05:17:30 pm

Sounds easy enough but there is a cost in time and money.
At this point - and for the last 46 years - I have been able to produce honey without the use of any chemicals.

I use not artificials in my farming aspects and use a minimal amount ( ticks) in cattle.

At my age to make such a huge change would be a big challenge. I gues " why bother".

Title: Re: Is Australia Still Varroa Free?
Post by: jimineycricket on February 21, 2022, 06:37:56 pm

Quote

" why bother".

      Because, at (our) age, we need to keep going in order to keep going!  :)  And it is worth the effort to sustain a few hives just to enjoy the presence of having bees flying around.   Besides, I like reading posts from other bee keepers in other areas/countries.  Very interesting.

Title: Re: Is Australia Still Varroa Free?
Post by: Skeggley on February 22, 2022, 08:27:21 pm

Still SHB free here too.
32+ days in a row over 35?C (95F) is starting to get to me too? :tongue: