Varroa detected in Australia

[max2]

Wish us luck...

Hives returning.

Remaining vigilant against the threat of varroa mite
Although Queensland remains free of varroa mite (Varroa destructor), Biosecurity Queensland continues to
be vigilant to minimise the risk of this pest entering our state.
Following consultation with the Queensland Beekeeper?s Association, biosecurity instrument permit
conditions have been developed for those bees, hives, and equipment returning to Queensland from
attending the 2022 almond pollination event in Victoria and South Australia.
The conditions have been developed to ensure that the returning hives are a very low risk of carrying varroa
mite, consistent with how the Australian Government manages international trade risks.
Returning beekeepers are required to apply for and be granted a biosecurity instrument permit prior to entry
into Queensland. Conditions include:
Returning beekeepers are required to demonstrate that their hives have been tested for varroa mite
using an alcohol wash plus drone/worker brood uncapping before leaving Victoria or South Australia,
and to test them again 10-12 weeks after their return to Queensland.
Beekeepers must ensure testing, destination and traceability records of all individual hives are
maintained for 12 months.
Biosecurity Queensland case managers will be assigned to every returning beekeeper to ensure all the permit
conditions are known and understood, and compliance activities will be undertaken to ensure the permit
conditions are met. Penalties apply to beekeepers who do not meet their obligations under the Biosecurity Act
2014.
Report the health of hives via Bee 123
Spring is a perfect time to check the health of your hives, even if you do not find any suspect mites.
All beekeepers are encouraged to check their hives and report online using the quick and easy to use
Bee123 form.
The data gathered from checking hives will helps us to understand the number and health of beehives in
Queensland.
More information
Read more about varroa mite.
Visit the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries engagement hub?help protect our bees by reading
the latest FAQs or ask us a question

[Skeggley]

Wish us luck...

Hives returning.

Good luck.

[max2]

Thanks

The risk must be considerable.

Even if every beekeepr is doing an alcohol wash...there must be a chance that a mite is missed.

[Michael Bush]

>Even if every beekeeper is doing an alcohol wash...there must be a chance that a mite is missed.
Exactly.  And it only takes one...

[Ben Framed]

>Even if every beekeeper is doing an alcohol wash...there must be a chance that a mite is missed.
Exactly.  And it only takes one...

True,,,,,,,

[Ben Framed]

I have noticed their has been no new 'daily' reports or updates concerning Varroa Destructor since September 8 from my relied on source: Department of Primary Industries..  No News is good news? 😊

Phillip

[max2]

Todays' up-date tells us " no mites found"

I will try to cut and paste the message - sorry, it is rather long

13 September 2022
Queensland Beekeepers? Association
Weekly Varroa Mite Update ? Week Ending 9/09/2022
The detection of Varroa destructor in Newcastle on the 22nd June 2022 has created much anxiety within the
Australian beekeeping industry. In an effort to streamline our communications to our members the QBA will
now offer weekly updates to our members and affiliate clubs giving insight into our current areas of focus.
We actively encourage all beekeepers to undertake varroa mite surveillance activities on managed hives and
report the results (including negative results) to the Bee 123 portal. For more information on the Bee 123
portal please click here.
Weekly Update 9 September 2022
Bee 123 data to date:
Key Points:
? Queensland?s movement control order (MCO) remains in place.
? Movement conditions for varroa mite carriers (dead hives for sterilisation and honey supers) into
Queensland from NSW have been developed.
? Permit application forms for movement of honey supers from NSW will be distributed 9 September
2022.
? Permit application forms for movement of dead hives for sterilisation from NSW will be finalised and
available early next week.
? DAF have provided a case manager to the identified Beekeepers in NSW to support the urgent
movement of the honey supers into Queensland.
? Queensland continues to work with the other state Jurisdictions to get agreement on conditions for
movement of hives with bees across state borders.
? DAF is undertaking surveillance activities for the pollination events in Bundaberg
? Work is ongoing for developing the permit conditions for Braula fly carriers to enter Queensland
from states where it has been detected.
Total beekeepers reporting results 273
Total Hives checked 2495
Total hives reported 8574
Mites found or suspected 0
2 | Page
? DAF is undertaking additional surveillance activities in Queensland, including undertaking varroa
mite surveys at the upcoming pollination event in the Bundaberg area starting 12 Sept 2022.
? DAF continues to record and monitor surveillance results on the Bee 123 reporting page of the DAF
website and encourages all beekeepers who have not yet done a test and reported the results to
DAF to do so as soon as possible.
Upcoming Events:
QBA Brisbane Branch Meeting
When: Saturday 24th of September 2022, 2:00PM
Where: DAF Research Facility, 26-40 Delancey St Cleveland
Open to: QBA Brisbane Branch members and Local Affiliate Club Executive.
Past Events:
The recording of AHBIC?s online webinar held on 31 August 2022 can now be watched from your computer
or electronic device. Please click here to watch th

[Ben Framed]

"Todays' up-date tells us " no mites found"

Max this is GREAT news!

Phillip

[max2]

Indeed good news...BUT the hives are coming back into Qld after Almonds.

I meet a beekeepr from the affected area the other day and she told me that her 3 hives will be destroyed...but are still sitting in her backyard.

Well, this is swarming season and I would have hoped that hives in the high risk areas had been dealt with by now.

It is not over...but looking as positive as we could expect

[max2]

1000 hives will be destroyed
Berry growers on the NSW Mid North coast say summer berry supplies will be impacted as an aggressive plan to eradicate the varroa mite in the Coffs Harbour region gets underway.
Key points:

    Mid North Coast Berry growers face crop losses as pollination services are restricted
    Around 1,000 hives will be destroyed or have bees euthanased
    Native flies and bees are being looked at as alterative pollinators to mitigate crop losses

The parasite was detected at Nana Glen in July.

Despite heavy surveillance finding no new cases of the deadly bee parasite in the area since, the eradication of all commercial and recreational hives in the 10-kilometre "red zone" will commence by the end of this week.

Around 1,000 beehives will be destroyed, leaving one of Australia's largest berry-growing regions without proper pollination services for at least six months.

Department of Primary Industries (DPI) representatives and NSW Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders confirmed the risk-mitigation plan at a meeting in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday night.

"It was challenging news for the growers to hear," Berries Australia chief executive Rachel McKenzie said.

[max2]

UPDATED Emergency Order No. 28
Commercial Queen Breeders can resume business
Queens and queen cells can now be raised and sold commercially within NSW with conditions including
completing the Tocal training and completing at least one alcohol wash (must notify the department of
results through the online form) on the apiary prior to the first round of catching queens. In addition, it is
also a requirement to maintain accurate records of queens moving out of your operation.
Records that must be maintained include.
? the date on which movement occurs, and
? details of the origin and destination premises
Washing requirements have changed
Alcohol washing of hives is now no longer tied to hive movements. NSW apiarists now must do at least one
alcohol wash in every 16 weeks period regardless of if they move or not. Beekeepers must report the
results of the alcohol washes through the online form when completed.
The ratio of washing hives has not changed. The following applies to an operation:-
? Less than 64 hives owned ? all hives must be washed
? 64 hives up to 640 hives owned ? washing of 64 hives
? 640 hives or more owned ? 10% of hives washed
Hive movements require a declaration
Commercial beekeepers who want to move hives must submit a movement declaration form through the
existing online system. Beekeepers must have completed at least one alcohol wash in accordance with the
washing requirements above before moving. The movement declaration form also requires beekeepers to
have completed the Tocal online training course.
Dealing with swarms in zones
In the PURPLE and RED zones registered beekeepers can catch a swarm, but only for the purpose of
euthanising the swarm. Swarms must not be kept in this Zone.
In the BLUE ZONE a registered beekeeper may catch and keep a swarm. You must alcohol wash the
swarm before you move it, and once it has been moved to your apiary it can be managed as any other
hive.

[max2]

Just read that the breeder queens at Tocal College had to be destroyed - a big setback.

Varroa mite detection forces the destruction of research hives in NSW's Hunter region
NSW Country Hour
/ By Kim Honan and Joshua Becker
Posted 2h ago
2 hours ago
A queen bee among hundreds of bees on a hive frame.
Some 200 production and 50 breeder colonies were euthanased at Tocal Agricultural College.(ABC Rural: Kim Honan)
Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article

Researchers have been forced to euthanase 250 of their breeding and production bee colonies after a varroa mite incursion near a facility in NSW's Hunter region.
Key points:

    Researchers were able to save 48 high value queen bees from euthanasia
    The destruction of research colonies is considered a setback for apiarists nationwide
    Permits are available for beekeepers to move queen bees amid varroa lockdown restrictions

Varroa mite, which has devastated bee colonies around the world, has been detected at Butterwick, less than 10 kilometres from Tocal Agricultural College.

NSW Department of Primary Industries Bees technical specialist Elizabeth Frost said it was a disappointing setback for the industry.

"Overall, 200 production and 50 breeder colonies, and nucleus colonies on top of that, have all been euthanased," she said.
women working on beehive
Elizabeth Frost says 48 high-value queen bees were assessed and able to be rehomed.(Supplied)

Australian Honey Bee Industry Council chief executive officer Danny Le Feuvre said it was part of the industry-wide plan for eradication.

"Unfortunately, Tocal has just fallen into the red zone and those hives are no different to any other beekeeper hives," he said.

"If we are to achieve eradication, we need to remove all the honeybees from those red zones."
Plan Bee queens saved

Nearly 50 high-value queen bees in Plan Bee, the National Honey Bee Genetic Improvement Program, were able to be securely removed and rehomed.
beekeepers working their hives
The research facilities' hives have been destroyed.(Supplied: NSW DPI)

Through a permit system, Ms Frost was able to get some queens out to areas in the blue zone for caretaking.

"We applied for a permit to conserve a limited number high-value queens," she said.

"We got 50 assessed. A couple of them just died in the introduction ? they were a bit on the old side.

"It's really important to our program because, I mean, two years of selection doesn't sound like that many, but this program is a national one."

Permits to conserve limited numbers of high value queen genetics were also available for commercial queen breeders within varroa mite eradication zones.
Working to increase genetics

Mr Le Feuvre said the Plan Bee program was one of the most significant research projects for the industry.

"It's really important to try and develop a breeding program to increase genetics as well as providing data collection around those genetics and having estimated breeding values and really uplifting the industry's genetic potential," he said.
a man sitting on a fence in an agricultural setting under blue skies
Mr Le Feuvre says the industry is hopeful the outbreak will be contained.(YouTube: AgExcellence)

DPI researchers will refocus their efforts on developing an online course for commercial beekeepers to improve bee genetics and continue to collect records for ongoing research.

Mr Le Feuvre was hopeful it would help other queen bee breeders in the red zone who wanted to save their genetics.

"At this stage, the Tocal queens were sort of the first cab off the rank to make sure the protocol works," he said.

"And it didn't injure the queens ? and now we've done that successfully, we're able to, you know, look at others that want that to happen with their hives."
A blue sign in the middle of a paddock reads "bee research and training centre" with an arrow in its direction
The bee breeding program at Tocal is one the industry's largest research projects.(ABC Upper Hunter: Bridget Murphy)

Ms Frost said it could be years before hives could be re-established at Tocal.

"It could be three years from the point of the last detection of the mite in the red zone, potentially," she said.

[max2]

One new dedection - makes 100
21 September 2022
Queensland Beekeepers? Association
Weekly Varroa Mite Update ? Week Ending 20/09/2022
The detection of Varroa destructor in Newcastle on the 22nd June 2022 has created much anxiety within the
Australian beekeeping industry. In an effort to streamline our communications to our members the QBA will
now offer weekly updates to our members and affiliate clubs giving insight into our current areas of focus.
We actively encourage all beekeepers to undertake varroa mite surveillance activities on managed hives and
report the results (including negative results) to the Bee 123 portal. For more information on the Bee 123
portal please click here.
Weekly Update 20th September 2022
Bee 123 data to date:
Key Points:
? There was 1 new detection of Varroa mite in NSW reported on 18 September. The new detection
was located within the existing red eradication zone in the Newcastle area. A beekeeper called in the
result after completing surveillance at home. This brings total infected premises across NSW to 100.
? Queensland?s movement control order (MCO) remains in place.
? Biosecurity Queensland Officers continue to respond to potential breaches.
? Moving supers and equipment to Queensland from the General Emergency Surveillance Zone (?blue
zone) for irradiation, requires a biosecurity instrument permit (BIP). To apply for a biosecurity
instrument permit visit https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/biosecurity/policylegislation-regulation/biosecurity-instrument-permit Please allow 3-5 days for applications to be
processed.
? DAF continues to record and monitor surveillance results on the Bee 123 reporting page of the DAF
website and encourages all beekeepers who have not yet done a test and reported the results to
DAF to do so as soon as possible

[max2]

The next step

This is only part of the message - I could not cut and paste the lot - it is very long

Varroa mite eradication shifts to removal of wild European honey
bees ? Jerrys Plains
NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) is continuing efforts in response to the
Varroa mite incursion, confirmed as Varroa destructor, detected in biosecurity surveillance
hives at the Port of Newcastle.
The apiary industry, Local Land Services, Rural Fire Service, National Parks and Wildlife
Service and the Environmental Protection Authority have been welcome and important
partners with NSW DPI in this national response.
Following detection of Varroa mite, our team has worked to contain, trace and eradicate the
bee parasitic mite from zones in NSW. As the response moves closer to all managed
European honey bees within 10km of a Varroa mite infested hive being euthanised, the focus
is shifting to euthanising wild European honeybees within the eradication zone.
Wild European honeybee management plan
Following on from the euthanasia and destruction of recreational and commercially
managed hives within the red eradication emergency zone, the next phase in the eradication
of Varroa mite includes the complete removal of wild European honeybees from the zone.
Information on the emergency zones can be found at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/varroa.
Euthanasia of wild European honey bees will be completed using a commonly available
insecticide called fipronil. Fipronil bait stations will be located and operated by NSW DPI
within the 10 kilometre zone around each of the premises where Varroa mite was detected
(the Varroa mite red eradication emergency zone).
To ensure the safety of people, animals, livestock and the environment this work is strictly
controlled by NSW DPI, in accordance with an Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines
Authority permit [PER84929v2]. The fipronil bait stations are designed to exclude other
animals and insects, and to prevent contamination of soil and water. While the fipronil bait
stations are in active use the baited area will be supervised by trained staff.
Rollout of the plan

[max2]

Here is the link to the full message - if it works

https://members.qbabees.org.au/resources/Documents/Varroa-mite-eradication-shifts-to-removal-of-wild-European-honey-bees-Jerrys-Plains_.pdf

[max2]

Of course we all hope that Australia can beat Varroa.
We shall see.
If varroa is with us for good, we need to make some very difficult decisions.

This is a story from Cuba:

SEPTEMBER 27, 2022
RECAPPING AND MITE REMOVAL BEHAVIOUR IN CUBA
Recapping and mite removal behaviour in Cuba: home to the world?s largest population of Varroa-resistant European honeybees

By: Anais Rodr?guez Luis, Isobel Grindrod, Georgiana Webb, Adolfo P?rez Pi?eiro & Stephen John Martin

Scientific Reports volume 12, Article number: 15597 (2022)

Abstract



The Varroa destructor ectoparasitic mite has spread globally and in conjunction with Deformed Wing Virus has killed millions of honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies. This has forced Northern hemisphere beekeepers into using miticides to avoid mass colony losses. However, in many Southern hemisphere countries widespread treatment did not occur since miticides were prohibitively expensive, or a centralised choice was made not to treat, both allowing natural selection to act. The Varroa mite initially caused high losses before mite-resistance appeared in the honeybee populations. Initially, mite-resistance was only associated with African and Africanised honeybees. Although recently, several isolated mite-resistant European honeybee populations have appeared. Here we studied the mite-resistance in Cuba and found high rates of recapping of infested worker cells (77%), high removal of mites (80%) and corresponding low mite fertility (r = 0.77). These are all traits found in all naturally evolved Varroa-resistant populations. We can confirm Cuba has the world?s largest European mite-resistant population with 220,000 colonies that have been treatment-free for over two decades and illustrating the power of natural selection. Cuban honeybees are also highly productive, 40?70 kg of honey produced annually, and are mild mannered. Cuba is an excellent example of what is possible when honeybees are allowed to adapt naturally to Varroa with minimal human interference.

We are here to share current happenings in the bee industry. Bee Culture gathers and shares articles published by outside sources. For more information about this specific article, please visit the original publish source: Recapping and mite removal behaviour in Cuba: home to the world?s largest population of Varroa-resistant European honeybees | Scientific Reports (nature.com)

Tags

[Michael Bush]

Those of us who went to small cell (4.9mm or smaller cells) observed this behavior as soon as we regressed to the smaller cells.

[max2]

Interesting.
Could you please expand on this?

[Michael Bush]

Back in the early 2000s many of us started doing either natural cell or small cell or both.  We immediately noted changes in the behavior of the bees.  They were biting mites, which we had not seen, and uncapping purple eyed pupae, especially drones but also workers.  After they are uncapped for a while they get recapped.  I could never figure out if they were trying to dry them out to harm the Varroa, or if they were trying to remove the Varroa.  But it seemed to help.  I also observed them grooming Varroa off.  I have an observation hive in the living room so these were real time observations, and not just snapshots when opening the hives, though there was that as well.  Dead mites with dented shells were documented and photographed.  These were obvious changes in behavior that occurred when getting bees back to natural size.
https://bushfarms.com/beessctheories.htm
https://bushfarms.com/beesnotreatments.htm
https://bushfarms.com/beesnaturalcell.htm
https://bushfarms.com/beesfoursimplesteps.htm
https://bushfarms.com/beesfoundationless.htm
https://bushfarms.com/beesframewidth.htm

[max2]

4. October

No new dedections

4 October 2022
Queensland Beekeepers? Association
Weekly Varroa Mite Update ? Week Ending 28/09/2022
The detection of Varroa destructor in Newcastle on the 22nd June 2022 has created much anxiety within the
Australian beekeeping industry. In an effort to streamline our communications to our members the QBA will
now offer weekly updates to our members and affiliate clubs giving insight into our current areas of focus.
We actively encourage all beekeepers to undertake varroa mite surveillance activities on managed hives and
report the results (including negative results) to the Bee 123 portal. For more information on the Bee 123
portal please click here.
Weekly Update 28th September 2022
Bee 123 data to date:
Key Points:
? Biosecurity Instrument Permits for movement into in Qld of beehive supers for extraction & used
hives for irradiation from the NSW GEZ (?Blue Zone?) have been developed and are being issued.
o Information on permit conditions and information have been added to the DAF eHub
? Inspections to ensure compliance with permit conditions scheduled to commence 29/9/22.
? Scheduled compliance activities for all permitted activities to commence this week.
? The QBA is continuing its work with Biosecurity Queensland to identify solutions for the safe return
of hives stranded outside of Queensland.
Upcoming Events:
? Industry webinar to be held in collaboration with QBA on hive movement and permits?