Varroa detected in Australia

[Ben Framed]

In the mean time it looks like it has spread all over NSW according to coloring on the map. Though still low in numbers in some locations, they unfortunately are dotted around the map.

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/emergencies/biosecurity/current-situation/varroa-mite-emergency-response

[max2]

The spread will slow for the next few months - too cold for swarming.

I noticed that the Mac nuts are budding - not long and beekeepers will move hives to large orchards.

[max2]

Asian Honey Bees in Townsville
Alert!

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?hl=en#inbox/FMfcgzQVwxHZXwKLstZKVsBflqvdqgbb

[Ben Framed]

Your link gives me this Max:

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[max2]

The map tells the story
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-21/hobby-beekeepers-launch-varroa-warriors/103974120

[Lesgold]

Just to clarify the map Red coloured areas indicate where varroa has been found whereas the blue areas indicate areas where testing results indicate an absence of any varroa. The darker the red, the greater the number of varroa found. The blue areas indicate how many test results have been returned for a particular area. Dark blue for instance indicates that a lot of people have tested for varroa and reported negative results. This new map is a little confusing.

[Ben Framed]

Thanks for the clarification Les. Glad it?s not yet as bad as I thought! 👍🏻

Phillip

[max2]

This seems to be what is at this point available in Australia for Varroa management:
https://www.ecrotek.com.au/collections/varroa-beekeeping-products-australia

As you can see - expensive.

[maxell86]

When it comes to Bayer, expect the prices to be expensive.

[max2]

This update came in today.
I hope that you can open it:
https://app.vision6.com.au/v/119951/1008348/email.html?k=wdL1O9mniFbKv0faj4WDQEPetK4dD8FtRKL_vUxpKV4

[max2]

Hives are on the move to almonds

I wonder how this will turn out?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-20/varroa-mite-super-spreader-fears-almond-pollination-season/104104326

[Ben Framed]

Varroa will turn out just as it has in every other country it has invaded. It will spread. Your people will debate the ways of proceeding. The almonds need the bees and the bees need the beekeeper. The farmer needs the almonds as does your Country, as well as other crops and plants there that rely on our friend, the honeybee.  There are several strategies that are effective when dealing with varroa destructor.  One consolation I see here, is your people having the advantage of learning from the progress, as well as mistakes, made by other beekeepers in other countries when faced with the similar challenge.

[Michael Bush]

If we've learned one thing from history it's that we never learn from history

[Lesgold]

Couldn?t agree more. We will make the same mistakes as everyone else has in the past due to politics, greed, individual interests, ignorance etc. The only difference will be our starting point in relation to treatment methods which will give us some hope but it will be a real challenge over the next couple of years. Information coming through from impacted areas is quite frightening. Hives are becoming infested quickly and are doomed in a short period of time. 

[Ben Framed]

Mr Bush
I remember you saying earlier into this, back when they made the decision and began destroying bees and equipment. > I wish Australia the best of luck.  But eradication has been tried everywhere Varroa showed up and it has never worked.  It only takes one Varroa to spread eventually to everywhere.  They don't even need two...<


Australia was fortunate to have kept Varroa Destructor off their Continent for as long as they did.

[Michael Bush]

>I remember you saying earlier into this

I wished then and now that I was wrong.

[Ben Framed]

I know, me too.

[Bill Murray]

This really isnt a treat no treat issue. In my opinion the issue lies with a brood-break over multiple months period. If you have this all well and good if you dont???? Now that being said, are there other things you can do to lower the count? Small cell is one. Genetics is two. Forcing a brood-break for as long as you can without ending up with laying workers three. Multiple treatment options that you can fit into your management schedule/routine four.

Here is where I stand at this point and time.

1) Small cell I am using this in 2 yards- on its own no noticeable difference. 90% death rate over 18 months.
My thoughts on this, I forced brood-breaks on these yards this year - neither will get a summer treatment But huge amounts of mites in July, all over 20 count. Ill try to do a wash in Oct.

2) I tried VHS - the brood they stripped was insane. If paired with a brood-break and small cell would this work? IDK. Not paying that amount of money for queens again.

3) I removed a lot of queens this year before the flow. Im still collecting supers but saw no difference in mite populations in the yards I have collected. anywhere from 12-28 mites per wash.

4) I would like to hear from members here who are completely treatment free, that dont have natural brood-breaks, make honey ( lets say over 2 mediums a hive, consistently), live in a sub tropical climate, dont have Africanized genes, and have over Ill say 60% survival after a hives 1st 12 months.

[Lesgold]

Thanks Bill for your comments. I agree that brood breaks will be vital as a part of an integrated pest management process. I would like to think that treatment free beekeeping may be an option in the future but the information that I?m getting from people in the field is that mite explosions are taking place at phenomenal rates in the warmer and temperate areas where brood breaks don?t naturally occur. This is basically the situation here in Australia at the moment where the outbreaks have occurred. There has already been quite a few people talking about moving bees to colder country during the winter so that natural brood breaks will occur. For many of is, this will not be an option so other methods have to be considered. We have been told that the next two or so years will be brutal so treatment has to be a major consideration if we are to keep our bees alive. Small cell beekeeping and genetics are all areas that may be worth exploring but those avenues take time which is a luxury that we don?t have.  Bill, I enjoy reading your input. You present good, concrete information that gets people thinking. Please provide us with as much guidance as you can because we are running blind at the moment. Could you explain VHS to us please?

[Ben Framed]

If its treatment free you seek as well as vhs. This will be an excellent place to seek information in my opinion.

There seems to be an upswing here lately in No Treat beekeeping interest. For those of you who are digging into this I have a real treat for you! I am going to make a bold statement; This fellow, in my opinion will soon be the worlds leading authority on treatment free bees, whether he happens to win, lose, or draw on his endeavorious pursuit of the right bee for the job. Richard goes into a project full steam ahead, seeking every answer possible for what ever adventurous beekeeping avenue he may seeking. He is Richard Noel, Brittany France and he is excited! Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/oP4Mrk6khQg