Over 800,000 bees taken in complex theft in far north Queensland.

Tom Bidner, an apiarist from far north Queensland, reported that 44 bee colonies have been stolen from three beekeepers, marking the largest theft in recent memory. This incident involved the loss of over 800,000 bees, valued at tens of thousands of dollars, as beekeepers face additional challenges from the recent arrival of the varroa mite parasite.

Bidner, based in the Atherton Tablelands near Cairns, noted that each colony likely housed around 20,000 bees, contributing to the significant total. The thefts occurred across multiple properties and required a well-planned operation with specialized equipment. Instead of removing entire hives, the thieves extracted the brood boxes, leaving the hives looking intact from a distance.