Varroa news from Australia

[Jim Veitch]

I'm in Australia and came across this article 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-26/bees-sent-from-wa-to-varroa-mite-ravaged-sa-almond-pollination/106959770?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_web

[Bees & Beeks]

Oh no!  For years AU was unaffected by Varroa while we in states battled the nuisance.  If the island continent of AU couldn’t rely on bio security to keep Varroa out, how is bio security supposed to be imposed on only portion of AU? 

AU was where my fascination with bees began over 21 years ago (pre children) visiting an apiary with live full view observation hive and education on propolis.  

Mimi 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 27, 2026, at 1:41 AM, Jim Veitch <jvei...@gmail.com> wrote:



I'm in Australia and came across this article 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-26/bees-sent-from-wa-to-varroa-mite-ravaged-sa-almond-pollination/106959770?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_web

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[Catherine Edwards]

The article says two kinds of mites are present, one being resistant to pesticide. Which two are those and which pesticide? Do you know?

Catherine Edwards

(510)421-7206

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[Danny Williamson]

Hi Catherine, the two different types of Varroa mites are the Varroa destructor and Varroa jacobsoni with Varroa destructor being the one that has developed resistance to standard chemical treatments. The chemical treatments Varroa destructor has developed resistance against are synthetic pyrethroids and formamidines. I'm glad I don't have any major problems with mites even without treatment. 

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[Jim Veitch]

HI Catherine,

The article is unclear but from other reading I think that they mean that while it is only one mite, Varroa destructor, there are two different strains of mites, one resistant to Amitraz and all the older chemical miticides, and the other strain not resistant. The Australian authorities believe the original strain came in sometime before 2022 when mites were first detected, and the second resistant strain came in later.  I'm going to ask Randy about it when he comes down to the workshop because I find this surprising.  Why should Varroa not make it to Australia for 40 years and then suddenly have 2 separate incursions in 4 years?  Seems possible instead that the mites were already genetically predisposed to develop resistance from pre-existing long term use of miticides in their country of origin.

Mimi:

The southwest of Western Australia, where the beekeeping industry is concentrated, is separated from the rest of Australia by 500 to 1000 miles of desert and has long had biosecurity laws around transport of honey bees and bee products. They remain free of the Small Hive Beetle that has been present in the rest of Australia for 20-25 years.  While mite infected honey bees will eventually make it over there it might be decades.

Jim

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