The Conversation: Australia has officially given up on eradicating the Varroa mite. Now what?

The federal government body in charge of pest control has announced Australia will abandon efforts on eradicating the Varroa mite. This parasitic mite (Varroa destructor) lives in honey bee colonies, feeding on pupae and adult bees. The mites spread viruses, impair the bees’ ability to fly and communicate, and make them more susceptible to pesticides, eventually causing a colony collapse if left unmanaged. Until recently, Australia remained free of Varroa thanks to stringent biosecurity measures. But in June 2022, the mite was detected in the New South Wales coastal area near Newcastle and has continued to spread.