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Biosecurity (Varroa Mite) Order No. 4 is now in effect.
You must not touch or move your hives unless to feed using an approved internal feeder, or to inspect for mites by one of these approved methods:
All beekeepers within the red, purple and yellow zones MUST notify all hive locations, preferably online by completing the Beekeeper Notifications - Varroa mite online form
Biosecurity (Varroa Mite) Order No. 3 is currently in effect. The Order defines the current Emergency Zones, and specifies the rules applying to each of them.
To find out which zone your bees are in, enter the address in the search box on the map at dpi.nsw.gov.au/varroa
The ABA continues to work directly with the NSW DPI and AHBIC to provide accurate answers and support for recreational beekeepers.
The ABA is part of the emergency response team based at the Local Control Centre (LCC) at Maitland.
One important part of the emergency response is to track and trace each positive case to understand how they are related. This gives the team of entomologists and epidemiologists the tools they need to predict the possible spread, and to determine where surveillance operations need to be concentrated.
Sometimes we need to check that varroa is not in a specific area. So if you receive a request directly from the DPI (or from the ABA on behalf of the DPI) to carry out a sugar shake test on your bees, don’t panic!, it doesn’t indicate that varroa has arrived on your doorstep.
Please just carry out the testing as requested, and send the results through promptly.
No. Please do not touch your bees. You may be destroying evidence for contact tracers. Each hive is a piece of a big jigsaw, helping investigators to home in on trouble spots. You will be contacted by DPI. Until then, please hold tight. This is the very best way that you can help everybody.
Please don’t do this. Varroa mites jump between honeybees. This is a major way they spread through the population. If you create a communal feeding station, you’re in effect setting up Superspreader HQ..
Download the free mobile app Emergency Plus. This shows the latitude and longitude of your location. If you find a wild colony or swarm, open the app and take a screenshot. Then take a regular photo of the spot. In red, purple and yellow zones, share this information with authorities. In other areas, store it safely in case it can help later.
In NSW: no! Biosecurity Order No. 3 prohibits beekeepers from handling managed or unmanaged honeybees. The only permitted live bee activity is surveillance work for varroa mites.
If honeybees are causing a threat to human safety, call Triple Zero (000). And if you’re on the ABA’s swarm collector register and get calls from the public, please advise them of the lockdown rules.
In red, yellow and purple zones, the locations of all managed and unmanaged bees MUST be notified to authorities one of three ways:
Completing a Biosecurity Concern form (nsw.gov.au)
Emailing hive.location@emergency.dpi.nsw.gov.au, or
Calling the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline, 1800 084 881
In the blue zone, authorities are NOT asking people to report locations at this time. However, all beekeepers are urged to update their rego details – and you can record your hive locations with your online records. To do this online, go to: BFS Portal
The free mobile app Emergency Plus will tell you precisely where you are standing.
For the latest on the emergency: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/varroa
Contact us on beehelp@beekeepers.asn.au
Beyondblue – www.beyondblue.org.au information relating to depression and anxiety disorders, as well as options for treatment, recovery and staying well. Beyondblue offers online counselling, support and referrals. Phone: 1300 22 46 36
Lifeline – www.lifeline.org.au Compassionate support for people in crisis. No judgement. No conditions. No agenda. Just a human connection. Confidential crisis support is available via phone, text or online chat. Phone: 13 11 14 Lifeline Text: 0447 13 11 14 Online chat: www.lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat/
NSW Mental Health Line - A mental health professional will answer your call about mental health concerns for you or someone you are concerned about, including children, teens, adults and older people. Phone: 1800 011 511
Rural Adversity Mental Health Program - www.ramhp.com.au Educating, encouraging and linking rural people to mental health support. Phone: 1300 22 46 36
The ABA continues to work directly with the NSW DPI and AHBIC to answer members’ queries and concerns during the widening Varroa biosecurity emergency. Our Industry Liaison Officer (for recreational beekeepers) is based full-time in the Local Control Centre at Maitland.
An updated Biosecurity Order came into effect at 6.15 pm on 28 June 2022. This clarifies definitions and extended areas in eradication, surveillance and notification zones.
Not in NSW. The only permitted hive activity is surveillance work for varroa mites. This means beekeepers must not top up, change or otherwise handle feeders, until further notice. There are no exceptions for front feeders or for top feeders already in place. As frustrating as this may be for many beekeepers, you must wait. The restrictions are in place to give authorities the best opportunity to isolate and act on problem areas.
Any change to the rules will be advised via a new Biosecurity Order.
We were asked this question by one member who has recently needed to destroy AFB infected colonies and had taken smear samples from other hives just before the statewide lockdown.
The answer: they can and must send their samples to the state veterinary lab straightway. The current varroa situation does not override their biosecurity obligations to report AFB. You cannot, however, open hives to check for AFB or perform any health checks other than testing for varroa mites.
We advise all NSW members to hold off on sending contaminated boxes for irradiation. Boxes can be securely wrapped (bee proofed) and stored. In red and purple zones no apiary equipment can be moved from premises.
We continue to hear from members who are confused about what to do. Performing mite checks is allowed and encouraged, but not mandated. You’ll be contacted by the DPI anytime you are specifically required to check, and given instructions.
Be conscious of biosecurity: if you are within 25km of an infected premises (red or purple zone) wear a disposable coverall over your bee-suit, and disposable boot covers. Remove outer clothing, bag and freeze for 24 hours after use. (You could consider doing this even if you are outside the 25km zone.)
Take ziplock bags to contain any suspect material, and white paper or a bucket of water ready to examine your icing sugar mix.
To minimise the colony’s exposure to cold temperatures, pick the warmest part of the day and get prepared before you break open any boxes to pull out frames.
Act calmly but decisively.
Remember to clean your equipment after use.
Any suspicious results must be reported immediately by:
Completing the online form at dpi.nsw.gov.au/hives
Sending an email to hive.location@emergency.dpi.nsw.gov.au or
Calling the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881. (9am to 5pm, 7 days a week).
For the latest on the emergency: dpi.nsw.gov.au/varroa
Tip: to zoom in on the map, use the + and - buttons on the left-hand side rather than using a touch screen zoom. Click on the button below these +/- buttons to select the map view (image, streets, typographic etc)
Have a specific query? Contact us on beehelp@beekeepers.asn.au
The ABA is working closely with the DPI and AHBIC to provide you with clear, accurate and up to date information.
The whole of NSW is now covered by Biosecurtiy (Varroa Mite) Emergency Order 2022 No.2. You cannot move any honeybee hives, or any honeybees, packages and queens. This applies to everyone and harsh penalties are in place.
Four different ‘zones’ have been declared. See map for current perimeters. https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/seasonal-pests-and-diseases/spring/varroa-mite
Do not touch or manipulate hives in any way, except to carry out mite checks..
You may carry out mite checks — sugar shake, alcohol washing and drone uncapping — as a surveillance measure. The bees cannot be moved from the premises to do this. Any suspicious results: call 1800 084 881 immediately.
If you live in a cold area, your hives may not contain much or any brood but you can still sugar shake bees taken from the cluster. Pick the warmest part of the day and minimise the time the hive is open. https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock/bees/pests-diseases/sugar-shake-month
If the DPI specifically asks you to do a mite check, please do it promptly and, as instructed, report your results whether they are negative or positive.
The order for the whole state says you cannot "tamper, disturb or interfere with bees” other than when directed by an authorised officer or when performing a mite check. This means you cannot add supers, remove honey or honeycomb or manipulate hives while the order is in place. Honey processed and stored prior to the lockdown may be packaged, transported and sold.
In red and purple zones (up to 25 km from confirmed sites), apiary equipment – and that includes suits, tools, smokers – cannot be moved from one premises to another.
In the rest of the state, there’s currently no such restriction.
If you are in red, purple or yellow zones (up to 50 km), the Number 1 priority is: notify the DPI of the location of your hives and any feral or unmanaged bees you know about. https://forms.bfs.dpi.nsw.gov.au/forms/9247 Await further instructions.
Everywhere in the state,
make sure you are registered with the DPI and your details are up to date
report any suspicious activity, particularly if you believe someone is moving bees https://forms.bfs.dpi.nsw.gov.au/forms/9247
encourage any unregistered beekeepers to register now https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock/bees/beekeeper-registration?SQ_VARIATION_444177=0 The DPI has assured beekeepers there will be no repercussions for unregistered beekeepers who contact them now to register or report hive locations
take note of any feral honeybee colonies in case you are asked to report them later
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/emergencies/droughthub_old/wellbeing
A statewide lockdown is now in place prohibiting the movement of any honeybees, honeybee hives or associated equipment anywhere within NSW.
The Biosecurity (Varroa Mite) Emergency Order 2022 (No. 2) took effect at 6pm today and applies to all beekeepers — recreational and commercial. It means that you cannot move your hives, any of your honeybees or any associated equipment from its current location.
This order extends a previous order that applied to a zone within 50 kilometre radius of Newcastle.
Varroa mite has been detected at several properties across New South Wales, and it is suspected to be present at several others.
Police have the authority to stop and fine beekeepers on the spot, and penalties will be heavy.
We urge all beekeepers to co-operate fully with these orders and any biosecurity measures aimed at keeping Australian beekeeping free of varroa. Small inconveniences now will be worth it if we can contain this incursion.
We will post updates when we have further information. Meanwhile, you can contact us on beehelp@beekeepers.asn.au if you have specific queries and we will endeavour to help.
The map below shows the Eradication, Surveillance, Notification and General Biosecurity Zones described in the Order.
Late on Wednesday 22 June, the ABA was made aware of the detection of mites in surveillance hives at the port of Newcastle. These mites have been tested and positively identified as Varroa destructor.
A comprehensive Emergency Response Plan is in place for such incidents, and the ABA executive team is actively involved in the response to this outbreak, working closely with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC).
The ABA is providing an Industry Liaison Officer who will be located at the local coordination centre in Maitland.
We will contact members within 50km of the Port of Newcastle with specific instructions and advice.
DO NOT move or destroy any hives unless specifically instructed by a DPI officer.
It is vital that beekeepers understand that an Emergency Biosecurity Order is place, and that a 50km “do not move” zone has been established around the Newcastle area. If you have hives in this area, you must:
NOT move any hives or beekeeping equipment from its current location
NOTIFY the DPI of the location of all hives by calling the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline, 1800 084 881 or completing this form
AWAIT further instructions
NSW beekeepers have been called on to safeguard their industry after an early warning system found varroa mite, the most serious pest of honey bees worldwide, in biosecurity surveillance hives at the Port of Newcastle.
NSW Chief Plant Protection Officer, Satendra Kumar, said the hives were immediately contained and the bees were euthanised.
“NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) plans to protect the NSW honey industry by eradicating the parasite, which was confirmed as Varroa destructor,” Dr Kumar said.
“Australia is the only major honey producing country free from varroa mite. If varroa mite establishes here it could cost Australia’s honey industry more than $70 million a year and adversely impact multibillion-dollar plant industries, which rely on bee pollination.”
The eradication plan is supported by a varroa mite biosecurity zone covering an area within a 50 km radius of the Port of Newcastle infestation.
Within this biosecurity zone, no hive can be moved and beekeepers must notify NSW DPI of the location of all hives by calling the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline, 1800 084 881 or completing this form.
Eradication plans include treatment of beehives within a 10 km emergency zone around the infestation and inspection of managed and feral honey bee colonies within a 25 km surveillance zone.
Beyond the 50 km biosecurity zone, beekeepers should continue to inspect their hives for signs of varroa mite and report mites or anything suspicious to 1800 084 881.
The mites are tiny reddish-brown parasites and individual mites are easily identifiable to the naked eye.
Samples of the mites were confirmed as Varroa destructor by molecular diagnosis at Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute.
Beekeepers work side-by-side with government as part of Australia’s early warning system to detect exotic honey bee pests, the National Bee Pest Surveillance Program, which includes surveillance hives and catch boxes at strategic locations around our ports and airports.
More information is available from NSW DPI: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/seasonal-pests-and-diseases/spring/varroa-mite
Hive inspection techniques: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock/bees/pests-diseases/sugar-shake-month
Varroa mite detection form: https://forms.bfs.dpi.nsw.gov.au/forms/9247
Please be informed that NSW DPI has issued a new group permit (the permit) for the purposes of moving or causing the movement of bee hives (with and without bees) and components thereof into NSW, effective from the 4 July 2019.
This five-and-half minute video from the DPI's Tocal College shows the whole process.
Doug Somerville, technical specialist in bees from NSW Department of Primary Industries, demonstrates how to sugar shake bees
The DPI has a two-page Prime Fact on Sugar Shaking you can print for reference.
