Varroa

In June 2022, Varroa was detected in the Newcastle area on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Varroa mites are particularly problematic for European Honeybees:

Disease. Varroa mites serve as vectors for various viruses that are harmful to bees, including deformed wing virus (DWV).
Reproductive Cycle. The mite's reproductive cycle is synchronized with the honey bee's brood cycle, allowing the mites to reproduce rapidly and infest the entire colony.
Weakens Colonies: As varroa mite infestations grow, the mites become more numerous than the bees in a colony. The mites weaken the bees by feeding on them, transmitting viruses, and interfering with their development.
Difficult to Control: Varroa mites have developed resistance to many chemical treatments, making their control challenging.
Colony Losses: Infestations of varroa mites are a significant contributor to honey bee colony losses worldwide.

Outline

This study will take samples of european honeybees from captured swarms. The activity is coordinated with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) because the swarms will be captured adjacent to the current Varroa Emergency quarantine zones and often from within national park boundaries. Each swarm captured would have some data points recorded, a quantity of bees alcohol washed, sealed and then sent to the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra for further analysis.

Volunteer Participation

Volunteers are expected to have some beekeeping experience with their own beehives for at least a couple of years. Volunteers will be asked to undertake the following:

Set between five and ten swarm traps within an area of several hundred metres.
Monitor these traps on a weekly basis.
When a swarm is detected, they will gather the following information:
- estimate the number of frames of bees
- count the brood and resource (honey/pollen) frames
- weigh the colony
Collect approximately 300 bees, place them in alcohol in the provided sealed sample container.
Clean and reset the swarm trap.
Ship the sample and data sheet back to ANU in the pre-addressed/pre-paid sachal envelope.

Support

ANU will provide the following support to volunteers:

detailed instructions,
on-site training during the initial swarm trap deployment,
direct support contact officer,
on-line email support.

Equipment

The following equipment will be provided to each volunteer participant

An agreed number of swarm traps fitted with frames, em-lock and entrance reducer/lock.
Tags and labels for noting data (as described above).
Spill-proof sealable container.
Quantity of alcohol.
Return paid address tag, (overnight delivery ?) fragile/liquid stickers and packaging.
Nitrile gloves.

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