1. Insect pests  
2. 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.

• Varroa mite management
• Varroa Management Tool

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.

More topics in this section

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
  

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.