Nelson Varroa bee mite incursion - Update #3
23 June 2006
Following continued testing for varroa in the Nelson area, another 3 apiaries are suspected to be infected with the Varroa bee mite, This brings the total number of apiaries suspected or confirmed as infected with varroa to 21, Biosecurity senior policy analyst Paul Bolger said today.
Biosecurity New Zealand launched an immediate response after a national surveillance programme for the varroa bee mite confirmed the presence of varroa at two sites near Stoke in the Nelson region on Friday June16.
18 of suspected apiaries been confirmed by the testing laboratories and the latest three finds are expected to be confirmed by the laboratories in the next 2 days.
Two of the new finds are outside the 10km radius around the site of the original infected apiaries. To date, survey efforts have been concentrated in the 10km areas however one of the latest finds are in apiaries belongs to one the biggest beekeepers in the area who has hives all over the nelson region.
Biosecurity New Zealand survey teams expect to find more apiaries infected with the mite.
The latest finds have decreased the feasibility of an eradication attempt but no decisions will be made on future management options until surveying is completed.
Surveying will now concentrate on apiaries outside the 10km zone that are associated with infected apiaries inside the 10km zone.
Varroa is an unwanted organism that kills bees. It was first detected in 2000 in Auckland. By the time it was detected, it had spread too far for eradication to be feasible. Instead, the government put in place a programme to slow the spread in the North Island and try and keep the South Island free of the pest.
A controlled area declaration under section 131 (2) of the Biosecurity Act 1993 has been declared on the following Territorial Authorities: Buller, Marlborough, Tasman Districts and the Nelson City. Movement of all Honey bees and related beekeeping materials and products and equipment will require a permit. Permits can be obtained by calling 0800 80 99 66.
Media contact: Tina Nixon Senior Communications Adviser, Biosecurity New Zealand, 027 2232789