Tyagarah residents are alarmed at what they believe to be Varroa mite-infested hives in the nature reserve
A local, who asked not to be named, said that the owner of the hives told them that the bees had Varroa.
The resident said they contacted the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and Regional Development (DPIRD), and were told that the bee keeper had a permit and there was nothing else they could do.
Not received reports
The DPIRD, as the lead agency for the National Varroa Transition to Management Program, say they are yet to receive reports concerning a positive detection of Varroa mite in Tyagarah Nature Reserve.
A DPIRD spokesperson said to date, the closest detection reported was in Rosebank in September 2024. ‘Owing to the close proximity to the reserve, it is possible Varroa mite may now be present in nearby hives’.
‘It is critical beekeepers report detections through appropriate channels to ensure accuracy in our understanding of the spread, and to meet their legal obligations’.
The spokesperson said that within NSW, beekeepers can now move hives freely.
No longer technically eradicable
‘Following a national decision that Varroa mite are no longer technically eradicable, the DPIRD has been working with industry to transition to a management phase, and removed the existing control orders, which had previously prevented the movement of hives in NSW.
Removal of the control order allows beekeepers to make decisions around Varroa management within their own operations’.
The spokesperson said beekeepers should regularly test for Varroa mite in their hives.
‘Testing should be conducted at least four times per year as a minimum. In areas where Varroa is known to be present, beekeepers should test more frequently, such as every four weeks.’
Varroa mite remains one of Australia’s biggest threats to honeybee and pollination- dependent plant industries.
A notifiable pest
Varroa mites are classified as a notifiable pest in all Australian states and territories, and The National Varroa Transition to Management Program in NSW is currently underway to help industries transition to management of this pest.
‘The program focuses on educating beekeepers, aiming to increase industry resilience, and slow the spread, giving more time for impacted industries to prepare for the incursion.’
An online course is now available introducing the basics of Varroa. Alternatively, NSW Varroa Development Officers are available to come to hives and talk to beekeepers about Varroa mite management.
The Varroa.org.au website includes resources for online education including treatment options, contacts for hands-on help and tracking of the spread of Varroa.
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