<
https://theconversation.com/as-varroa-spreads-now-is-the-time-to-fight-for-australias-honey-bees-and-you-can-help-223204>
"A tiny foe threatens Australian beekeepers’ livelihood, our food supply and
the national economy. First detected in New South Wales in 2022, the Varroa
mite is now established in Australia.
The parasitic mite, which feeds on honey bees and transmits bee viruses, has
since spread across New South Wales.
It is expected to kill virtually all unmanaged honey bees living in the bush
(also known as “feral” honey bees), which provide ecosystem-wide pollination.
Honey bees managed by beekeepers will survive only with constant and costly use
of pesticides.
As the last holdout against Varroa, Australia has a key advantage – we can
still take action that was impossible elsewhere. We know Varroa-resistant bees
would be the silver bullet. Despite decades of research, no fully resistant
strains exist, largely because the genetics of Varroa resistance are complex
and remain poorly understood.
A recently released national management plan places a heavy focus on beekeeper
education, aiming to transition the industry to self-management in two years.
This leaves research gaps that need to be urgently filled – and we can all work
together to help tackle these."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
