AUS….Given up on Varroa Removal

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Varroa arrived in NZ - which has similar if not tighter controls in place. Rumour in the bazaars is that it was on smuggled queens. Not necessarily malicious, but certainly ignorant of the potential damage.
Yes entirely possible…one reason it’s better to have a regulated industry negating the reason for some to do it illegally because someone always will.
Aus may end up with very similar rumours, but it will remain to be seen if they are proven. The import of bees via ships/cargo is well documented, it’s also the case that the initial outbreak was first confirmed near a Port.
 
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I doubt it if that was the case they would have been on it right away. Probably imported on a cargo ship in the form of a swarm or colony as many other islands have found.
They’ve also had incursions in the North before and dealt with them.
I seem to remember something about it initially getting in with some stray a.cerana
 
I doubt it if that was the case they would have been on it right away. Probably imported on a cargo ship in the form of a swarm or colony as many other islands have found.
You are right Ian it was picked up in “biosecurity surveillance hives at the Port of Newcastle” last June which which was in their winter time. I’ve been following the story on and off since then. Here’s the latest article on the abc site. At the end of it if you click on the more on beekeeping link and go far enough back you will be able to follow the whole story.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2...strategy-beekeeper-cost-food-prices/102880084It’s now their springtime and the big boys have thousands of hives to be moved so it looks like they would rather live with it than fight a losing battle.
 
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Good report on ABC's landline. Does the link work in the UK? It's at the beginning of the programme. Have a tissue ready......


https://iview.abc.net.au/video/RF2304Q037S00
It is awful. Especially as all those hundreds of destroyed hives were the last to go under the programme.
How many of us thought that it was pointless from the start? Most I should think
 
It is awful. Especially as all those hundreds of destroyed hives were the last to go under the programme.
How many of us thought that it was pointless from the start? Most I should think
I do remember Jenkins definitely said so ....
And oxalic acid can't be used. https://honeybee.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Oxalic-Acid-Beekeeper-Information1.pdf
I know here in Tasmania...a remote island at the bottom of the world, I am living through what will be the halcyon days of beekeeping.
 
Does it help to quess, how varroa arrived to Australia?
Punishment? There is also litigation as I understand it. Perhaps also they are also trying to see what viruses have potentially come in with it, so perhaps that depends on where it came from?
 
I do remember Jenkins definitely said so ....
And oxalic acid can't be used. https://honeybee.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Oxalic-Acid-Beekeeper-Information1.pdf
I know here in Tasmania...a remote island at the bottom of the world, I am living through what will be the halcyon days of beekeeping.
You down there are built " a bit" different.. aren't You?
Just to have heads up, Bayvarol at my place worked somewhat acceptable for I think 2 seasons. After that high varroa resistance on it.. I don't use it for a long time..
 
I do remember Jenkins definitely said so ....
And oxalic acid can't be used. https://honeybee.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Oxalic-Acid-Beekeeper-Information1.pdf
I know here in Tasmania...a remote island at the bottom of the world, I am living through what will be the halcyon days of beekeeping.
Someone sure has a hate campaign against OA.
I think it would be best for the Australian bee industry to raise the money to get generic OA through the registration process before big Pharma do it. It would potentially save them millions
 
I know of one instance of a beekeeper enquiring about the availability of the InstantVap in Australia. He won't be the only one
NZ gas its own methids to treat varroa. Those methods surely work in Australia too.
 

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