Varroa mite spreads across New South Wales, threatening Australian honey bees and pollination.
The Varroa mite, a parasitic threat to Australian honey bees, has spread across New South Wales since its detection in 2022. This mite feeds on honey bees and transmits bee viruses, potentially killing unmanaged honey bees and forcing managed ones to rely on costly pesticides. Efforts to develop Varroa-resistant bees are ongoing, but without fully resistant strains, Australia faces a significant challenge in protecting its bee population and the ecosystem-wide pollination they provide.
February 27, 2024
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