Food favourites in firing line of deadly mite

Varroa mite is considered a deadly pest to honeybees all over the world and concerns are growing for producers after the initial Port of Newcastle infestation last month spread north.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries on Tuesday confirmed another infestation had been detected near Nana Glen, northwest of Coffs Harbour.

There are now 43 infested premises across the state.

“NSW DPI has established emergency zones around the infested premises and has put significant measures in place to stop the spread of the varroa mite,” a DPI spokesman said.

Local NSW Farmers Coffs Harbour branch chair Paul Shoker said the new outbreak was worrying to growers as pollination season approached.

“Without bees, we can’t produce avocados or blueberries, or a lot of other crops for that matter,” Mr Shoker said.

“Community reporting is a vital part of control measures and people should continue to report the locations of any hives, both managed hives and wild hives, they might be aware of.”

The Northern Rivers region, which includes Coffs Harbour to the Queensland border, produces a substantial amount of Australia’s blueberries and avocados.

Varroa mites can only reproduce on honeybees and can quickly destroy any hives they infect.

The parasite was first detected during routine surveillance at the Port of Newcastle on June 22.

Since then, the DPI has established emergency zones around infested premises to stop the spread of the mite.

“All beekeepers responsible for honeybee colonies or hives within 50km biosecurity zones are either in the notification, eradication or surveillance zones,” the DPI spokesman said.

“In those zones, beekeepers must tell NSW DPI where their honeybees and hives are.

“This includes queen honeybees in cages and packaged honeybees.”

Originally published as Avocados, blueberries in firing line as infestation spreads north