© 2021 Greek Community Tribune All Rights Reserved
The deadly honey bee parasite varroa mite is here
October 2025 The deadly honey bee parasite, varroa mite, has been detected in South Australia for the first time. The state was the fifth jurisdiction to detect the pest after a discovery was made in the Riverland during routine surveillance this week. Farmers are concerned its spread could wipe out wild bee colonies and impact agricultural industries that rely on bee pollination. Varroa mites are 1 to 2-millimetre-long parasites that attach to the bodies of honey bees — then eat them alive — and also feed on bee larvae. After weakening their host, they will transfer to another bee or to another part of the colony they’ve invaded. The mites take over a colony when female varroa mites lay eggs in the honey bee colony’s brood cells and male mites stay in the larvae-rich brood cell to mate — literally eating a new generation. When host bees travel, the mites take over multiple colonies and can transfer to a bee from a separate colony. The pest spreads at least five debilitating bee viruses, including the deformed wing virus, further weakening the colonies it invades. Australia was the last continent to be free of the parasite, before it was again detected in New South Wales in 2022. Varroa mite has since been found in Victoria, Queensland, and the ACT. This week, an infested hive found in Pooginook, in South Australia’s Riverland, was part of a consignment from Queensland and was not sourced from an area of a known outbreak. A widespread varroa mite outbreak would have a devastating effect on Australia’s agricultural industry. In the United States, 30 per cent of commercial honey bee hives collapsed after varroa mites became established. In the United Kingdom, 90 per cent of feral honey bee hives — colonies of non-native honey bees established independently to beekeepers — collapsed due to the mite. Similarly, in New Zealand, 90 per cent of the feral bee colonies disappeared because of the mites not being managed. The South Australian government says the almond industry has advised that without access to interstate pollination this season, production worth up to $100 million could be at risk. SA’s Minister for Primary Industries Clare Scriven said authorities are working to monitor the situation and control the spread. “What we’re asking people to do is if they see anything that looks like it might be [varroa mite] … if their hives are not in good condition, they’re seeing anything that looks like it might be suspect, that they do contact the department and then they can get additional advice on what to do,” she said. The department would be acting to control the parasite in accordance with the national varroa mite plan, which includes strict border control.
Greek Tribune
Adelaide, South Australia
© 2021 Greek Community Tribune All Rights Reserved
The deadly honey bee parasite varroa mite
is here
October 2025 The deadly honey bee parasite, varroa mite, has been detected in South Australia for the first time. The state was the fifth jurisdiction to detect the pest after a discovery was made in the Riverland during routine surveillance this week. Farmers are concerned its spread could wipe out wild bee colonies and impact agricultural industries that rely on bee pollination. Varroa mites are 1 to 2-millimetre-long parasites that attach to the bodies of honey bees — then eat them alive — and also feed on bee larvae. After weakening their host, they will transfer to another bee or to another part of the colony they’ve invaded. The mites take over a colony when female varroa mites lay eggs in the honey bee colony’s brood cells and male mites stay in the larvae-rich brood cell to mate — literally eating a new generation. When host bees travel, the mites take over multiple colonies and can transfer to a bee from a separate colony. The pest spreads at least five debilitating bee viruses, including the deformed wing virus, further weakening the colonies it invades. Australia was the last continent to be free of the parasite, before it was again detected in New South Wales in 2022. Varroa mite has since been found in Victoria, Queensland, and the ACT. This week, an infested hive found in Pooginook, in South Australia’s Riverland, was part of a consignment from Queensland and was not sourced from an area of a known outbreak. A widespread varroa mite outbreak would have a devastating effect on Australia’s agricultural industry. In the United States, 30 per cent of commercial honey bee hives collapsed after varroa mites became established. In the United Kingdom, 90 per cent of feral honey bee hives — colonies of non-native honey bees established independently to beekeepers — collapsed due to the mite. Similarly, in New Zealand, 90 per cent of the feral bee colonies disappeared because of the mites not being managed. The South Australian government says the almond industry has advised that without access to interstate pollination this season, production worth up to $100 million could be at risk. SA’s Minister for Primary Industries Clare Scriven said authorities are working to monitor the situation and control the spread. “What we’re asking people to do is if they see anything that looks like it might be [varroa mite] … if their hives are not in good condition, they’re seeing anything that looks like it might be suspect, that they do contact the department and then they can get additional advice on what to do,” she said. The department would be acting to control the parasite in accordance with the national varroa mite plan, which includes strict border control.
Greek Tribune
Adelaide, South Australia