Biosecurity (Varroa Mite) Order No.15 is now in effect in NSW

The current situation

A new detection of varroa was confirmed near Nana Glen northwest of Coffs Harbour on Monday.

This detection has been traced to a movement of hives from the Newcastle region before the statewide lockdown was introduced in June, and so is not indicative of varrroa spreading naturally to this area.

As the Coffs Harbour region is heavily reliant on honeybees for the pollination of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, avocados and macadamias, it is vital that all hive locations within 50km of Nana Glen are reported immediately to facilitate surveillance in the area.

Where are your hives?

Find out which zone your hives are in by entering the address in the search box on the interactive map.

If your hives are located in the red (eradication), purple (surveillance) or yellow (notification) zones, you MUST report the location of your hives to the DPI via the Beekeeper Notifications - Varroa mite online form or by calling the Hotline on 1800 084 881 (9am to 5pm, 7 days a week). You can also use this form to report feral hives in the red, purple or yellow zones.

Moving bees

For the eradication program to be successful, it is vital to eliminate the spread of varroa. For this reason you still must not move hives or bees anywhere in NSW, unless you are a commercial beekeeper who has been issued with a Biosecurity Emergency Movement Permit.

Swarms

Under the current Order, swarms cannot be caught in the red zone, and cannot be moved in any other zone.

If you are aware of a swarm in the red, purple or yellow zones please report it using the online form at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hives or call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881.

If there is any danger to public safety please call 000 immediately.

Handling bees and extracting honey

If you are in the red (eradication) zone, you must not or disturb, interfere with or feed bees, including by removing honey or honey comb from a hive. The only exception is if you are directed to do so by an authorised officer, or to inspect for mites by one of these approved methods: sugar shake test, alcohol wash or brood uncapping.

Remember to report all results (negative or positive) to the Hotline on 1800 084 881. All the negative results found so far form a ring around the red zone, and are vital to the epidemiologists’ understanding of the spread of the varroa mite.

If you are outside the red (eradication) zone, you are now allowed to work your bees as long as the hives are not moved from their current location. You may also extract honey, but please be aware there are strict rules which you must follow. Please refer to Moving of honey supers and extraction of honey in the current Biosecurity Order for details.

Report bees moved from the Newcastle region in the past year

Regardless of where you live, if you have acquired honeybees (including queen bees, nucleus hives and hives with honeybees) from within 50km of the Port of Newcastle (the red, purple and yellow emergency zones) in the past 12 months, please report this to the DPI, to help us detect and eradicate the varroa mite.

Report these honeybees using the DPI’s online reporting form.

Surveillance or treatment?

We are receiving enquiries about the use of various miticide products, such as oxalic acid and formic acid.

Please note that all chemicals must be registered with APVMA permits for use on bees or bee pests. There are currently no APVMA permits in place for the use of oxalic or formic acid, because they may pose dangers to both bees and beekeepers.

• Oxalic acid – this is a nasty acid that is applied with a fogging machine.  There is a move worldwide to reduce usage as there are significant OHS issues with applying it to hives for the operator including respiratory issues, blistering when in contact with skin, yellow staining of skin etc. Early indications from APVMA are that these OHS concerns will be a big hurdle in getting a use permit.

• Formic acid – there is no use permit for this product.  Formic acid is extremely harsh on bees.  In New Zealand it is widely accepted that you will lose 1,500 bees per day of application. The application period is short, but it significantly reduces the bee numbers.  In the overseas label, it states that formic acid should not be applied to bees hives with 8 frames or less as it will almost kill the hive.

Instead of risking the health of yourself and your bees, please inspect for mites using alcohol wash, sugar shake, or brood uncapping.

Shake or wash?

• Why has the focus shifted from sugar shake to alcohol wash?

• Does sugar shake work?

Yes, sugar shake works - in fact over 50% of the first 30 detections were found by sugar shake testing.

However, it is widely accepted that you are less likely to get a false negative with the alcohol wash method.

We need you!

With surveillance operations now taking place at several locations around NSW, we need even more volunteers to assist with essential field work. If you are an ABA member (or a member of any other AHBIC member body) and are willing to help, look out for an email with details about volunteering.

You are not alone

These are distressing times for all beekeepers, but for those in the red zone most of all.

Please be sensitive to your fellow club members’ suffering and be kind to each other.

The R U OK? Mateship Manual provides guidance and tips to help you support a family member, friend, neighbour or workmate affected by a natural disaster or an emergency now and into the future. 

To learn the signs that someone might be struggling and how to ask them "are you OK?" and provide support download your free digital copy now.

Support for beekeepers

There are free and confidential support services available to beekeepers during this difficult time.

Accessing small business and mental health and well-being support early is encouraged. The services listed below are open to all beekeepers: large or small, urban or rural. The friendly staff understand the situation and can connect you with the help you need.

• Small business support is available to beekeepers through

  • Rural Financial Counselling Service on 1800 344 090

  • Small Biz Connect on 1300 134 359

• The Rural Financial Counselling Service will support all beekeepers and will connect you with suitable services depending on your situation.

• The Rural Financial Counselling Service can assist with assessing eligibility of beekeepers to the Farm Household Allowance.

• Business owners are encouraged to speak with their banking institution and/or lenders to discuss their situation and develop a plan together.

• The Rural Adversity Mental Health Program is available to support beekeepers who would like to chat about their situation, and they can refer you to other services. Call Matthew Milne on 0437 989 044.

• Beekeepers in the Central Coast region can call the Central Coast Local Health District on 02 43 202952 to discuss mental health and wellbeing.

• You can call the NSW Mental Health Line for yourself, or if you are concerned about someone. This line is open 24 hours, 7 days a week on 1800 011 511.

• Charitable assistance is available to support households with items such as food and groceries, household items and household bill support. Charities such as Rural Aid will provide support to commercial beekeepers.

Sheila Stokes, assisted by Linda Winn, is the ABA’s Industry Liaison Officer at the Local Control Centre in Maitland.

If you are interested in understanding how the Emergency Response is organised, you will find a wealth of information on the Plant Health Australia website.

Have a specific query? Contact us on beehelp@beekeepers.asn.au