In a bid to protect Tasmania from the threat of the varroa mite, the state’s beekeepers have lodged a request for the Department of Primary Industries to ban imported queen bees.
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The mites, that can destroy hives, were found on an incursion of Asian honey bees in Townsville, Queensland earlier in August.
Tasmanian Beekeepers Association president Lindsay Bourke said the association had made requests to the chief veterinarian at the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) before but said the detection of varroa mite in Queensland did add more weight to the most recent suggestion.
“We have tried to suggest a ban before and have been knocked back but we thought this adds more weight to the argument,” he said.
Queen bees can be imported into the state under strict regulation and biosecurity protocols but Mr Bourke said a complete ban would lock down any access to the state for the mite.
Bees are imported to help beekeepers create more hives or to add to a breeding program.
“They can be imported at the moment but they are inspected heavily, they have to have come from a clean place, free of the small hive beetles,” Mr Bourke said.
“The bees are physically looked at by the breeder to ensure they have nothing on them and are inspected by Biosecurity Tasmania on arrival.”
The varroa mite is a type of small hive beetle that can travel through the soil or on fruit and infects local hives. The larval stage of the small hive beetle life cycle causes the majority of damage to active hives by burrowing into combs, eating brood, honey and pollen
“The larvae can ruin hives and it will take over a hive and ruin all the honey,” Mr Bourke said.
The decision to implore the department to ban imported queen bees was made at the last meeting of the Tasmanian Beekeepers Association but Mr Bourke said it wasn’t unanimous. The department will consider the beekeepers association request in the coming weeks.