Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
What’s Varroa?
Varroa
Varroa destructor, the Varroa mite, is an external parasitic mite that attacks and feeds on honey bees and is one of the most damaging honey bee pests in the world.[2][3] A significant mite infestation leads to the death of a honey bee colony, usually in the late autumn through early spring. Without management for Varroa mite, honey bee colonies typically collapse within 2 to 3 years in temperate climates.[4] These mites can infest Apis mellifera, the western honey bee, and Apis cerana, the Asian honey bee. Since it is very similar physically to the closely related Varroa jacobsoni, these species were thought to be one prior to 2000, but they were found to be two separate species by DNA analysis.
Varroa
Varroa
Varroa mite
Varroa mite is now considered established in NSW. A Transition to Management plan was approved in February 2024, which aims to increase resilience and minimise ongoing impacts of varroa mite naturalisation across Australia's bee and pollination-dependent industries.
This tool will walk you through the decisions you need to make to determine how best to manage Varroa mites in your hive. Using a series of questions about threshold, types of treatment, the presence of brood and honey supers, and the colony development phase, the tool will provide you with a range of available cultural, mechanical and chemical treatment options based on your answers.
Other Pests and diseases
Pests and diseases
Honey bees may be affected by a range of pests and diseases. The list below contains information about specific pests and diseases from a collection of sources, as well as regulatory information and forms.
For a quick summary of honey bee pests and diseases that are currently in Australia or still exotic download the Pests and diseases of honey bees Primefact.
Reporting a biosecurity risk
If you suspect or believe a biosecurity emergency is occurring or likely to occur, you must report it immediately by:
- Submitting an online form, or
- Contacting a vet, or
- Calling the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
To report other non emergency biosecurity risks, use the online formform.
- American Foulbrood and Small Hive Beetle in bees - video series
- American foulbrood
- American foulbrood - barrier systems
- American foulbrood in NSW
- American foulbrood disease Paenibacillus larvae in New South Wales Apiaries, Survey Results 2006
- Irradiation of beehive equipment - information from Steritech
- American foulbrood - The essential facts (video)
- Managing AFB
- AFB near me
Chalkbrood disease
European foulbrood
Nosema disease
Small Hive Beetle
Varroa
Other pests and diseases
Sampling and reporting
Spotlight
Notifiable animal diseases in NSWA number of animal diseases, including all emergency animal diseases, are notifiable under NSW legislation. This means there's a legal obligation to notify authorities if you know or suspect that an animal has one of these diseases.Pests and diseases of honey bees (PROfarm course)The two day course provides beekeepers with the skills to recognise, monitor and manage the impact of pests and disease on commercial honey bee colonies.