Varroa jacobsoni Detection at Port of Brisbane

Situation

On 19 February 2024, Biosecurity Queensland detected a single suspect Varroa mite in one of the six sentinel hives of Apis mellifera at the Port of Brisbane.

CSIRO has confirmed the mite Varroa jacobsoni and the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle, NSW, is testing for the presence of exotic honey bee viruses.

The single infected sentinel hive has been euthanised and further testing and diagnostics will be conducted to confirm it is a single mite.  The remaining 5 hives at the Port have undergone additional surveillance by Biosecurity Queensland, including immediate alcohol washes, drone uncapping (where possible) and additional miticide strips and mats. To date, no further mites have been found in either the euthanised infected hive nor the other 5 remaining sentinel hives at the Port of Brisbane.

Incident Management Team

Biosecurity Queensland have stood up an Incident Management Team (IMT) and are preparing for the next steps in this evolving situation. Delimiting surveillance is planned along with volunteer industry involvement. AHBIC reminds beekeepers that in Queensland, varroa mite (both V. destructor and V. jacobsoni) is listed as prohibited matter under the Biosecurity Act 2014.

Movement restrictions in place: QLD

A Movement Control Order is in place to assist in preventing the spread of Varroa, beekeepers are not permitted to move any bee(living or dead), a swarm, nest or hive of bees, apiary equipment, or apiary products within the Control Area. A map of the area surrounding the Port of Brisbane shows the Control Area:

For detailed information beekeepers should refer to the Movement Control Order: varroa-mite-carriers-movement-control-order.pdf (publications.qld.gov.au)

AHBIC encourages QLD beekeepers to be registered and stay up to date through Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website: Varroa mite alert | Business Queensland or https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/animal/industries/bees/varroa-mite

All Beekeepers

Importantly, all beekeepers should remember that the state of Queensland remains a biosecurity zone and any movements of Varroa mite carriers into Queensland require an approved permit through: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/biosecurity/policy-legislation-regulation/biosecurity-instrument-permit

Continue Exotic Mite Monitoring

To learn more about alcohol washing check out the nationally agreed resource Bee Pest Blitz: https://www.planthealthaustralia.com.au/beepestblitz/

 

 

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You can reach out to AHBIC via:

Varroa Coordinator 

Bianca Giggins

0402 467 780

bianca@honeybee.org.au

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.