Varroa mite detected in South Australia for first time

The "world's worst" honey bee parasite, varroa mite, has been detected in South Australia for the first time. The discovery was made in a beehive at Pooginook, in the state's Riverland, during routine surveillance by Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) inspectors. Varroa mites can kill honey bee colonies and transmit numerous viruses to their hosts. They mainly feed and reproduce on honey bee larvae and pupae, leading to malformations. The infested hive is believed to have originated in a consignment of hives from Queensland.