Varroa mite threatens Australian pollination and beekeeping industries

The Varroa mite is causing significant disruption to the Australian beekeeping industry, threatening pollination-dependent sectors such as almond farming. The parasite, which arrived in 2022, has spread through South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, carrying fatal pathogens that can wipe out entire colonies.

Industry experts warn of a looming biosecurity crisis. A report from The Wheen Bee Foundation estimates the mite could cause a 60 per cent decline in commercial beehives, potentially leading to a shortfall of 290,000 hives during the August pollination peak. In South Australia, initiatives are underway to establish a network of 1,000 beehives to mitigate the impact on growers.

Beekeepers are also facing regulatory and biological challenges. In Queensland, some producers report that approved organic treatments, such as oxalic acid, are insufficient for real-world production conditions and are restricted by strict permit conditions. Furthermore, Agriculture Victoria has warned that some mites are becoming resistant to all four permitted synthetic miticide treatments, complicating management efforts.