Varroa Update

There have been around 50 new confirmed infected premises of Varroa since the National Management Group (NMG) decision on 19^th September to transition the Varroa response to management, taking the total number of infected premises to 336. These infested premises have been confirmed through a mixture of NSW DPI surveillance and beekeeper reporting, the majority have been within the ORANGE management Zones with just 6 slightly outside these zones. No changes to the ORANGE or GREEN zones will occur.

As Varroa is expected to slowly spread across the landscape, so will the number of infected premises. The heat map on the NSW DPI website is the sole location to view the new infested premises, which does not identify specific locations, it will display colour variations to represent either mite load or number of infected premises in an area across the state of NSW where Varroa has been confirmed.

Hive euthanasia is no longer mandatory, the NSW DPI continues to carry out voluntary hive euthanasia depending on previous requests of beekeepers, it is expected that this work will be finalised prior to Christmas.

Monitor hives & Report results

Beekeepers are reminded to monitor for mites a minimum of 16 weeks apart and report results as per the current Emergency Order. Under the Emergency Order, if a person detects more than 5 Varroa mites in a hive, they must treat all the hives at the premises using a method approved by the APVMA, complying with all label directions and permit conditions no later than 14 days after the date on which Varroa mite is detected.  Beekeepers are allowed to continue to manage their hives and move them if necessary after a detection is made.  However, it is mandatory to report any positive detections. Varroa remains a reportable exotic pest, however, positive results no longer require beekeepers to euthanaise their hives.

The reporting of your monitoring will provide collective benefit to all beekeepers and will assist industry to understand the spread of varroa and also provide better awareness of risks for all beekeepers.

It is critical that mite monitoring occurs as soon as practicable after treatment application to determine efficacy of treatment. If mite counts are low then continue with regular monitoring until mites reach threshold and then repeat treatment.

AHBIC Industry Briefing Webinar

Varroa mite Emergency Response – Transition to Management Industry Update was successfully aired on Thursday 19 October, 7pm. You can catch the recording here on our YouTube channel:

AHBIC Industry Webinar 4 – Transition to Management

 

AHBIC, its employees, executive and consultants expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person in respect of anything, and the consequences of anything, done or omitted to be done in reliance, whether wholly, partly, upon the whole or any part of the contents of this industry update document. 

You can reach out to AHBIC via:

Varroa Coordinator

Bianca Giggins

bianca@honeybee.org.au

0402 467 780