June 2022 will surely stay in the minds of many Australian beekeepers, as it drastically changed beekeeping, especially in New South Wales. With the incursion of Varroa destructor (hereafter varroa) in Newcastle, beekeepers must now monitor and find new ways to protect their hives to manage varroa loads.

Varroa is the most serious pest of the Western (European) honey bee, feeding on the fat bodies of bee larvae, which have a function similar to the liver in humans. It is difficult to spot the mites with the naked eye, as it is highly adept at concealing itself on adult bees.

In other parts of the world, beekeepers have been managing varroa for decades.

However, Australia’s beekeeping conditions are unique and not all methods used internationally can be directly applied here.

Innovative methods for the management of varroa destructor

There are many ways to treat varroa with Integrated Pest Management, but most are chemical-based which can impact both honey quality and bee health. Our team at Macquarie University aims to develop chemical-free varroa management methods.

To achieve this, we are conducting a survey and interviews to better understand beekeepers’ needs, preferences, and expectations regarding varroa management. Based on the insights gathered, we will test existing varroa control methods and adapt them to suit Australian beekeeping conditions.

Take our survey

Survey link: https://nonchemicalvarroacontrol.com/

Get in touch!

If you would like to learn more about our project or participate as a collaborator—whether by joining our survey, interviews or future field days—please get in touch! We look forward to hearing from you.

Contact: [email protected]

Acknowledgements:

This article was peer-reviewed by Theotime Colin and Nadine Chapman.