{"id":14143,"date":"2025-04-25T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/?p=14143"},"modified":"2025-04-16T05:48:18","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T05:48:18","slug":"australia-honeybee-crisis-varroa-mite-hive-beetle-backyard-beekeeping-april-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/australia-honeybee-crisis-varroa-mite-hive-beetle-backyard-beekeeping-april-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian honeybees are under attack by mites and beetles. Here\u2019s how to keep your backyard hive\u00a0safe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\n Varroa mites on a male bee larva.\n Theotime Colin<\/span><\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n Cornelia Sattler<\/a>, Macquarie University<\/a><\/em> and Th\u00e9otime Colin<\/a>, Macquarie University<\/a><\/em><\/span>\n\n

Australia\u2019s honeybees are facing an exceptional crisis. The tiny but devastating foreign pest Varroa destructor<\/em><\/a> is steadily spreading across the country.<\/p>\n\n

The mite feeds on baby bees (larvae), weakening them. It can also spread viruses that eventually destroy entire bee colonies.<\/p>\n\n

Efforts to contain its spread<\/a> have failed<\/a>, so it looks like Australia must learn to live<\/a>\nwith this parasite.<\/p>\n\n

What\u2019s worse, Varroa destructor<\/em> isn\u2019t acting alone. In many parts of New South Wales, the mite\u2019s arrival appears to have triggered a surge in another destructive pest: the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida<\/em>)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

A wet summer in the east has created ideal conditions for beetle outbreaks. This combination is putting enormous pressure on bees and beekeepers alike. Here\u2019s how to help support the bee industry and, if you\u2019re a backyard beekeeper, defend your hives against attack. <\/p>\n\n

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\n The parasitic mite Varroa destructor<\/em> can hitch a ride on the back of a honeybee.<\/span>\n Cornelia Sattler<\/span><\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n

Know your enemy<\/h2>\n\n

Varroa was first detected<\/a> in Australia at the NSW Port of Newcastle in June 2022. <\/p>\n\n

The mite is now widely established in NSW<\/a> and in Queensland<\/a> between Toowoomba and Brisbane.<\/p>\n\n

It was detected in Victoria<\/a>, North-West of Melbourne in February and the ACT<\/a> earlier this month.<\/p>\n\n

In September 2023, Australian authorities acknowledged<\/a> eradication was no longer possible. The focus shifted to long-term management<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

A slimy accomplice<\/h2>\n\n

The varroa invasion appears to be making hives more susceptible to the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida<\/em>). This species arrived in 2002<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

The beetle thrives in warm, humid conditions and lays its eggs inside hives. The larvae feed on honey and wax, turning once-thriving hives into a foul, fermented mess. Beekeepers call this a \u201cslime-out\u201d \u2014 and it\u2019s just as bad as it sounds.<\/p>\n\n

The deadly one-two punch<\/h2>\n\n

A healthy bee colony can usually defend itself against beetles. But when bees are weakened by varroa mites, they\u2019re far less capable of resisting a beetle invasion. <\/p>\n\n

This deadly one-two punch has already devastated many beekeepers in NSW. One commercial beekeeper reported: <\/p>\n\n

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I had large infestations of mites. And then following the mite, I got the boom of the hive beetles. I probably lost 30 hives to beetles.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

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\n As varroa mites weaken a bee colony, other parasites \u2014 like the small hive beetle seen here \u2014 can invade and cause further damage.<\/span>\n Cornelia Sattler<\/span><\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n

What to do if you suspect an infestation?<\/h2>\n\n

The number of registered recreational beekeepers<\/a> in Australia is growing. In 2019, there were around 27,800 registered hobbyists. By 2023, that number had jumped to over 47,000. Backyard beekeepers also contribute A$260 million<\/a> to the economy. <\/p>\n\n

Varroa represents a major threat to every Australian honey producer, so here\u2019s a few tips.<\/p>\n\n

Inspect your hives at least once a month. If larvae appear to be tunnelling through honeycomb, or the honey appears fermented, these are signs beetles may be present.<\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s difficult to detect mites visually, especially when there are few mites present. That\u2019s where monitoring techniques come in. Typically, 300 bees are placed in ethanol or icing sugar<\/a> and shaken until mites fall off. This allows beekeepers to not only detect the mites but also to count them. <\/p>\n\n

Report mites<\/a> to the relevant state authorities. Failure to do so can result in fines.<\/p>\n\n

Immediately treat the infested hive and move it at least ten metres away from any others.<\/p>\n\n

Chemicals called miticides can kill varroa mites and knock the population down. But some beekeepers report side effects, including queen loss, so be prepared to replace queens. <\/p>\n\n

Mites may develop resistance to these treatments over time<\/a>, as one commercial beekeeper from NSW said:<\/p>\n\n

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We\u2019ve experienced a lot of queenless hives. I don\u2019t know whether that\u2019s from treatments [\u2026] it might be just coincidence, but I\u2019m hearing a lot of other beekeepers having the same problem.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Varroa mites feed on bee larvae, so caging the queen and taking a short break from brood production can reduce the mite population. Mites prefer male bee larvae, so removing these can help. <\/p>\n\n

These control methods<\/a> are effective, though labour-intensive, and potentially suitable for backyard beekeepers. They can lessen the need for chemical treatments \u2014 slowing the evolution of resistance to miticides.<\/p>\n\n

Protection against mites and beetles<\/h2>\n\n

To prevent your backyard hives being infested by mites or beetles:<\/p>\n\n