Varroa mite threat to Tasmania highlighted by TIA

Tasmania's fruit, berry, and seed crops face a significant threat from the potential introduction of Varroa mites, as highlighted by TIA entomologist Dr. Jonathan Finch. The reliance on feral honey bees for pollination, especially in apple production in the Huon Valley, makes these crops particularly vulnerable, according to a study by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA). While beekeepers can manage and treat their honey bee colonies for Varroa, feral populations remain unmanaged and at higher risk if the mite spreads.