‘Bees they’re fucking awesome!’ point out the Sweet Chunk Band in their melodious dedication to the bee, that sweet and essential little insect that helps keep us happy, fed, and alive here on planet earth.
The little varroa mite is leading to the eradication of many beehives in NSW. The Varroa mite (Varroa destructor and Varroa jacobsoni) is a parasite of adult European honey bees and honey bee brood. It weakens and kills European honey bee colonies and can also transmit honey bee viruses. The varroa mite order remains on effect.
Currently, there are three key varroa mite zones the first begins just north of Sydney to above Newcastle; the second is around Coffs Harbour a berry growing region; and there is a third site in north-west NSW. The exclusion and eradication zones began in Newcastle in August 2022 and have expanded since then.
Bring in the flies
In an attempt to ‘to fortify close to 1,500 hectares of berry crops’ in the Red Zone of Coffs Harbour area researchers will be releasing pollinator flies in the region.
Growers in the region have experienced a dip in pollination services after the eradication of bees following Varroa Mite incursions, and this program will investigate whether flies, that are not attracted to food or humans, can be as effective according to the researchers.
The research is being delivered through Hort Innovation and led by the University of New England and seedPurity, data will be collected from berry farms in the Varroa Mite Red Zone to understand how different flies pollinate berry crops and how growers could harness their behaviour.
University of New England associate professor Dr Romina Rader said that harnessing flies could be an important part of a growers’ pollination ‘toolkit’.
‘The aim is to provide growers with a range of options they can employ on their properties to encourage pollination by flies and other insects,’ Dr Rader said.
‘For example, we will investigate whether growing flowers other than berries on farms attracts wild pollinators for longer and supports the pollinators already in berry fields. We will also be investigating fly dispersal, retention, survival, and pollination efficiency within berries by a common fly species, Eristalis tenax.’
Dr Radar said that the fly E. tenax is already present in the Coffs Harbour area and has demonstrated its potential to pollinate berries in earlier trials.
Australian Blueberry Growers Association president Andrew Bell said the discovery of the Varroa Mite in the Coffs region has emphasised to industry that research into alternative pollination methods is more important than ever.
‘The recent Varroa Mite incursion has highlighted the need for growers to have multiple pollination strategies up their sleeves for times like this. I am looking forward to in the outcomes of this research and learning about how we can encourage greater pollination by flies on berry farms.’
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