A PARASITE no bigger than a pinhead is wiping out bee colonies across South East Queensland, with experts warning the Bayside could be facing one of its biggest environmental threats.
The deadly varroa mite attacks honey bees by latching onto adults and developing larvae, feeding on them while spreading viruses throughout the hive.
As mite numbers explode, colonies weaken, queens fail, young bees emerge deformed and, without treatment, entire hives collapse.
Already responsible for devastating bee populations interstate, the parasite is now spreading across South East Queensland, raising fears for local agriculture, backyard food production and native ecosystems that rely on pollination.
For many local beekeepers, the crisis is no longer looming – it is here.
Bayside Beekeepers member John Stenning has watched hive after hive die in both the Redlands and on his family’s property in northern New South Wales.
“It’s like a slow-moving train wreck,” he said.
“As the feral bee population dies off, everything that relies on them will feel it.”
Experts estimate healthy landscapes should contain between 75 and 150 wild bee hives per square kilometre, but Mr Stenning believes most have already disappeared.
A wild hive on his NSW property that survived for more than 20 years has recently collapsed, while seven of his eight managed hives there have died.
He has also lost four hives in Queensland.
“The speed at which this mite reproduces is incredible. One mite can turn into a thousand in just four breeding cycles,” he said.
Despite chemical and mechanical treatments, the infestation has become overwhelming.
“When I uncapped the drone cells, I was shocked at the number of mites inside,” he said.
The outbreak is also threatening Australia’s future bee population.
Redlands queen bee breeder and researcher Corinne Jordan said the varroa mite had transformed her life’s work.
“Before it arrived, we spent 13 years selecting and breeding queens,” she said.
“Now, every day is spent monitoring mites and protecting our remaining stock.”
She has abandoned her local breeding program after resistant mites emerged and is rebuilding from safeguarded genetics – a process she says will take years.
Ms Jordan said queen breeders had been largely overlooked in Australia’s response.
“Every beekeeper relies on healthy queens, but much of the focus has been on production hives,” she said.
“When a breeding program is lost, years of genetic progress disappear.”
She said breeders were now racing to develop bees capable of surviving alongside the parasite.
“The choices we make today will shape how resilient Australian bees are for years,” Ms Jordan said.
Federal Member for Bowman Henry Pike described the outbreak as “one of the most significant biosecurity threats facing Australia’s beekeeping industry, agricultural sector and long-term food security”.
After visiting the Bayside Beekeepers’ Cleveland apiary earlier this year, Mr Pike said Australia had reached a turning point.
“The varroa mite invasion has now reached a stage where eradication is no longer considered achievable, meaning Australia must shift its focus towards long-term management and resilience,” he said.
“This issue extends far beyond honey production.
“Honeybees are essential pollinators that underpin Australia’s agricultural industry.”
He said local beekeepers had made it clear the Federal Government needed to invest more in biosecurity research and provide greater support to help the industry manage the now widespread outbreak.
A spokesperson for the Department of Primary Industries said governments and industry had already begun mapping out a long-term response, with a national Honey Bee Industry Roundtable held on June 30 to address the impacts of varroa mite and growing miticide resistance.
The roundtable identified seven priority areas, including immediate industry stabilisation and financial support, improving access to mite treatments, strengthening beekeeper capability, securing pollination services, workforce development, protecting honey market integrity and increasing research and innovation.
The spokesperson said a follow-up forum on July 28 would further develop practical actions for industry and all levels of government.
Redland City Council’s spokesperson for Biosecurity and Pest Management, Cr Paul Golle, said protecting pollinators was critical for the region.
“Bees play a critical role in pollination and food production,” he said.
Cr Golle said Biosecurity Queensland was leading the response, while Council continued working with state agencies.
“Protecting pollinators is a shared responsibility between governments, industry, beekeepers and the broader community.”
