Australian beekeepers can’t tackle Varroa mite alone. Here’s how we can help

Theotime Colin For decades, Australia was the last inhabited continent free of the bee-killing Varroa mite (Varroa destructor). That all changed in June 2022, when Varroa was detected near Newcastle and rapidly spread along the coast of eastern Australia. By September 2023, authorities had abandoned attempts to completely eradicate the tiny parasite. So Varroa is here to stay. For beekeepers across Australia, that means learning to live with the risks of infested hives, lower production and…