Varroa mite

• Curved, pinhead-sized mite.
• Adult females are reddish-brown, flattened, oval-shaped, with body 1–1.7mm long and 1.5–1.99mm wide.
• Adult males are yellowish, spherical, with body 0.75–0.98mm long and 0.70–0.88mm wide.
• May be seen on the thorax or nestled into abdominal folds of adult bees.
• Obligate parasites of honey bees and do not survive for long away from a host.

• Live wherever bee colonies are found. Australia is currently the only inhabited continent in the world to be free of varroa mite.
• Asian honey bees (Apis cerana) have adapted to withstand varroa mite infestation and are their natural host.

• Varroa destructor is not established in Australia. Australia is one of the few countries in the world to remain free of varroa mite.
• In 2018, Varroa destructor was detected in Victoria in a swarm of European honey bees on arriving cargo. The bees were reported by the crew of the arriving vessel. The Australian government responded to the risk with assistance from the Victorian government and the swarm was eliminated.
• Varroa jacobsoni was detected on exotic Asian honey bee in Townsville in 2016, 2019 and 2020. The pest was eradicated under the nationally cost-shared National Varroa Mite Eradication Program. Proof of Freedom from Varroa jacobsoni was declared in 2021 and biosecurity measures were reviewed.
• Varroa destructor was found in the Port of Newcastle, New South Wales in June 2022.
• Varroa mite could spread across the country by the movement of any of the following carriers: a bee; a swarm, nest or hive of bees; an apiary appliance; or an apiary product.

Environmental

• Debilitates and eventually kills bee colonies, reducing managed and feral honey bee populations.
• Varroa mite can also carry bee viruses, including exotic viruses like deformed wing virus. These viruses can be more devastating to bee colonies than the mite themselves.

Economic

• Potential to severely affect honey production.
• Potential to severely affect a wide range of pollination-reliant food crops and crops that support primary food production.

• Early detection is essential to ensure any varroa mites entering Australia are contained.
• The Australian Government monitors cargo ships entering Australian ports for bees and other unwanted insect pests. If you find a swarm in an international airport or seaport, contact the See. Secure. Report. hotline on 1800 798 636 or Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
• The National Bee Pest Surveillance Program acts as an early warning system to detect new incursions of exotic bee pests and pest bees by monitoring locations considered to be most likely entry points throughout Australia.
• All beekeepers should monitor their hives and immediately report unexpected hive deaths, deformed bees, bees with parasites, poor brood patterns and dead brood to Biosecurity Queensland.
• Beekeepers can conduct their own varroa mite surveillance and record results of assessments using the varroa mite hive check form.

• Both species of varroa mite are listed as prohibited matter under the Biosecurity Act 2014 (the Act).
• The Act requires that all sightings be reported to Biosecurity Queensland without delay. A person that has sighted the pest must also ensure that they do not take any action that may exacerbate the risk of the pest spreading.
• By law, everyone has a general biosecurity obligation (GBO) to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risk of varroa mite entering and establishing itself in Queensland.
• Queensland is a varroa mite biosecurity zone.
• You must hold a permit issued by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to move bees, beehives, used beekeeping equipment or bee products (including unprocessed honey) into Queensland from states or territories where varroa mite has been found.
  • You must follow all permit conditions — penalties apply.
  • The maximum penalty for a person not complying is $287,500 (2,000 penalty units) or 1 year imprisonment.
• Queensland requires people to notify an inspector about the presence of varroa mite and not move varroa mite carriers into Queensland other than in particular circumstances.