An outbreak of the deadly parasite ‘varroa destructor’ in Australia threatens to cost the honey and food industry millions of dollars. The parasite is the biggest threat to bees worldwide. Millions of Australian honeybees have therefore already been placed ‘in lockdown’ and thousands will have to be euthanized.
The parasite was first discovered last Friday in Newcastle harbor near Sydney, but has since also been found in beehives 100 km away. This is worrying, because Australia was the only continent where the Varroa mite did not yet gain a foothold. The Varroa mite is only the size of a sesame seed, but it feeds on the fat body of the bees and also transmits viruses to the insects. The parasites weaken and kill entire bee colonies. The bees mainly die because of the viruses that the mites transmit.
Australian beekeepers are now prohibited from moving bees, hives or honeycombs within a newly imposed safety zone until further notice. The “bee lockdown” applies to the entire state of New South Wales, where about 400 sources of infection have already been found. Hives within 10 km of such an infested location will be exterminated. Colonies within a 25 km radius will be checked for the presence of the parasite.
The consequences can be disastrous. The damage to the honey production sector alone could amount to 46 million euros per year. In addition, about a third of Australia’s food production relies on pollination by bees. These include almonds, apples and avocados. Less supply means that the prices of that food will rise.
Other species of Varroa mites were previously found in the Australian states of Queensland and Victoria, and could be eradicated. Both states will no longer allow bees or bee products from New South Wales on their territory for the time being. The Varroa mite was first discovered in New Zealand in 2000. Six years later, both the North and South Islands were infested.
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss a thing from the stars.