VARROA MITE - september 2023 - CURRENT SITUATION from Ag.Vic. ​

Varroa mite has NOT been detected in Victoria

UPDATE FROM AG VIC: Agriculture Victoria biosecurity officers have been on the ground in Sunraysia undertaking extensive surveillance during almond pollination. Varroa mite has not been found in Victoria.Victoria is committed to the National Response Plan and will be undertaking further work in the region.We have implemented our permit system for entry of bees, hives and apiary movements into Victoria to help protect our state, while enabling essential horticultural activities such as the pollination season to continue.

Varroa mite has been detected in the Sunraysia and Riverina districts of the Vic/NSW border during August 2023.  Varroa which has been discovered in these specified areas is thought to have originated in the Kempsey area of NSW. Every effort is being made by Agriculture Victoria to prevent the varroa mite from entering and becoming endemic in Victoria.

Testing for Varroa

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Latest Bee info from Agriculture Victoria

Next Meeting

Bee Swarm Problem?

Varroa - NSW dpi Emergency response

What is the bee's main job?
Put simply, bees pollinate our plants, which means they carry pollen between plants of different sexes to fertilise them, or even between different parts of the same plant, which help plants reproduce. Bees even help plants survive by preventing inbreeding.

And if we had no bees?
We may lose all the plants that bees pollinate, all of the animals that eat those plants and so on up the food chain. Which means a world without bees could struggle to sustain the global human population of 7 billion. Our supermarkets would have half the amount of fruit and vegetables

How can I help the bees?
Keeping your own hive is not only a great hobby, but also a way to raise healthy honeybees and ensure that the plants and crops in your surrounding area are being pollinated. Beekeepers have a more productive garden as well as the added benefit of harvesting honey.If you’re interested in starting your own hive, check out our Classes Page(not available until August) for information on how to take the first step to becoming a beekeeper.

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​​​ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
​South Gippsland Beekeepers respectfully acknowledges the Bunurong and BoonWurrung  people, the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, live & work.
We recognise their continuing connection to the land, water and community and pay respect to elders past, present & emerging.