Varroa Information Page for Australian Beekeepers

With the change in Australia from elimination to management of Varroa, we are on a steep learning curve.  It is important that beekeepers monitor and manage Varroa in order to maintain honey bee health.  The VAA is committed to supporting beekeepers in dealing with this parasite and provides the following links. We strongly recommend relying on evidence-based and authoritative sources of information about the incursion and management of the Varroa destructor parasitic mite of the honeybee.

Updates

AgVic Current Situation

NSW DPI Emergency Response

AHBIC Industry Updates

Links

Varroa management: Honey Bee Health Coalition, USA

Managing Varroa:  National Bee Unit, UK

Varroa - a NZ perspective (VAA Conference Presentation by Jason Marshall available on YouTube)

Sampling Methods

• Alcohol Wash (preferred method)
• Sugar Shake (also recommended)
• Drone Uncapping (can be useful in addition to alcohol wash)
• Sticky Board Mite Drop (useful to confirm treatment effectiveness)

Books

Control of varroa : a guide for New Zealand beekeepers, 3rd edition. By Michelle Taylor and Mark Goodwin  The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Auckland, NZ, 2021

Varroa management - a practical guide on how to manage Varroa mites in honey bee colonies. By Kirsty Stainton,  Northern Bee Books, UK, 2022