Parasitic pest, varroa mite has been detected in South Australia for the first time.
The discovery was made in a beehive at Pooginook, in the state’s Riverland, during routine surveillance by Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) inspectors.
The infested hive is believed to have originated in a consignment of hives from Queensland.
PIRSA are testing other hives from the consignment and a biosecurity notice is being issued to beekeepers.
The infested hive is believed to have originated from Queensland. (Supplied: Australian Honey Bee Industry Council)
Varroa mite is a parasite which kills honey bee colonies and transmits viruses to its hosts.
It was first detected in Australia in New South Wales in 2022, and has since been found in Victoria, the ACT and Queensland.
SA Minister for Primary Industries and Regions, Clare Scriven, said there had been “regular surveillance” for the mite in the state since 2022.
“Obviously, we knew that it was likely that it would get here eventually,” she said.
“It’s already in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT, so we’ve been working really hard with industry in terms of preparedness for when varroa mite did make its way here.
“We know that it is here, discovered yesterday and confirmed.”
Clare Scriven is SA’s Minister for Primary Industries. (ABC News: Justin Hewitson)
Ms Scriven said the hives from Queensland would not be able to be transported off the Pooginook site.
“Things are already in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, it doesn’t spread further,” she said.
‘Hundreds’ of hives on farm where varroa mite detected
Ms Scriven said while she was not sure of the exact number of hives in the affected area, it was “in the hundreds”.
Varroa mite weakens and kills honey bees and transmits viruses to its hosts. (Supplied: Gilles San Martin)
“But that doesn’t mean that they all have varroa mite … there’s the constant surveillance, the constant testing,” she said.
“It is something that we know will eventually continue to spread.
“What we’re asking people to do is if they see anything that looks like it might be [varroa mite] … if their hives are not in good condition, they’re seeing anything that looks like it might be suspect, that they do contact the department and then they can get additional advice on what to do.”
She said the department would be acting in accordance with the national varroa mite plan which involves supporting beekeepers to maintain healthy hives and controlling the spread rather than total eradication.
“Those hives [that have been detected in SA] can be treated.
“They don’t need to be destroyed — if we were in an eradication phase or an eradication approach, then they might have needed to be destroyed, but that’s not the situation,” she said.
Loading