In Australia, the theft of over 800,000 bees from various beekeeping operations in Queensland…

In Australia, the theft of over 800,000 bees from various beekeeping operations in Queensland has raised concerns among industry professionals. Reports from the Guardian estimate the losses to be in the tens of thousands of dollars for the affected beekeepers. This incident comes at a time when the sector is already grappling with the spread of Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite detected widely in the country since 2022 and recently reported in northern Queensland.

Initial estimates suggest that 44 colonies were stolen from three different beekeepers, with each colony containing around 20,000 bees. However, several colonies still need to be inspected before a final assessment can be made.