Varroa Mite

Varroa Mite

Varroa destructor

This pest is established in the North Island and the Nelson/Marlborough area of the South Island.

If you suspect you have found this pest elsewhere in the South Island call 0800 80 99 66.

There are two Controlled Areas for varroa declared under the Biosecurity Act. One in the North Island(pdf) (161 Kb) and one in the South Island(pdf) (2001 Kb).

In response to finds of varroa out side of the current South Island Controlled Area, MAFBNZ revoked the South Island Nelson-Marlborough Controlled Area from 4pm Tuesday 13 May, replacing it with a new South Island Controlled Area.

Description

Varroa is an external parasite of honey bees. Adult female mites are fairly large about 1.1 x 1.6mm. They have a hard reddish to dark brown body that is flattened and oval in shape.

Varroa mites are transferred to new bee colonies on adult bees. The mite will then leave the bee and crawl into a brood cell. Once in the cell the mite submerges itself into the larval food at the bottom of the cell and start feeding on the prepupa. The mite will then lay its eggs. The eggs will hatch and go through two juvenile stages before becoming adults. The adult mites will leave the cell when the bee emerges.

Impact

The varroa bee mite is reducing the number of bees in managed hives as well as feral or wild colonies. This has an impact not only on the beekeeping industry, but it is also potentially damaging for crop pollination and pollination of pasture legumes. The apicultural industry's major contribution to the New Zealand economy is the pollination of plants, which is worth many times the value of honey and other bee products. It is estimated that one third of the food we eat relies on honey bees for pollination, and the area of crops reliant on bees for pollination is increasing.

Spread

Varroa is widely distributed throughout the entire North Island, including many offshore islands in the Hauraki Gulf, but has not been detected on Chatham or Stewart Islands.

In June 2004 suspected finds of varroa were investigated in the North Canterbury and Murchison areas, but no varroa populations were identified.

In June 2006 varroa was identified in the Nelson/Marlborough area. The South Island Controlled Area was put in place to slow the spread of the mite to the rest of the island. In April 2008 several sites near St Arnaud(jpg) (332 Kb), close to the southern boundary of the Nelson-Marlborough Area, tested positive for varroa. The affected sites are being treated and voluntary movement controls have been put in place. At the same time, varroa was confirmed at a site in Blenheim, within the Nelson-Marlborough Controlled Area.

To protect beekeeping operations from varroa in the West Coast, Canterbury and areas further south, MAFBNZ has revoked the South Island Nelson-Marlborough Controlled Area and replaced it with a new South Island Controlled Area covering: the northern part of Westland; Buller; Grey; Tasman; Nelson; Marlborough; and part of north Canterbury. The new South Island Controlled Area(pdf) (2001 Kb) came into force at 4pm on Tuesday 13 May 2008. This is an interim measure and stakeholders will be consulted during May and June about the future of this Controlled Area.

Information for transport operators

Transport operators have a crucial role to play in helping to slow the spread of the varroa bee mite in the South Island. Varroa is established in the North Island and was found in the Nelson/Marlborough area in 2006. It has since been found in the Buller region.

Varroa kills bees and is a threat to New Zealand's honey industry. Without bees for pollination our valuable agricultural and horticultural industries will suffer. All it takes is one mite on a bee to reach a hive for varroa to become established.

Transport operators and truck drivers can help by ensuring loads are checked and protected against ‘hitch hiking' bees, especially if risk goods are being transported from the North Island and South Island Controlled Areas(pdf) (2001 Kb) to the rest of the South Island.

Risk goods are:

  • Logs and buildings
  • Bulk wine grapes
  • Honey and other bee products – unless packaged for retail
  • Used beekeeping equipment and machinery.

Here are some tips for truck drivers and dispatchers if they find bees in, on or around their vehicles:

  • A single stray bee can be squashed with a newspaper/book or in a cloth etc. Don't release it out the window, as it will likely enter another vehicle or load. This only applies to honey bees, not wasps. Please take care if you are allergic to bee or wasp stings.
  • If you have driven through a swarm of bees, please stop afterwards where it is safe, and inspect your vehicle and load for stray bees.
  • If a swarm of bees attaches to your load or vehicle please contact MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAF BNZ) on 0800 80 99 66 for advice.

Important reminder
Beekeepers and transport operators routinely carting bee-industry related loads are aware of permitting requirements and procedures, and associated penalties for non-compliance(offsite link to www.legislation.govt.nz). If you are unsure whether your work poses a risk of spreading varroa, please phone MAF BNZ on 0800 80 99 66 for advice.

It is strictly prohibited to move:

  • Bees, bee brood, queen cells and eggs including queens, packages and whole hives
  • Used beekeeping appliances such as beehives or their parts

out of the North Island or south of SH1 between Parnassus and Hundalea (north of Leader Road East); The Inland Kaikoura Rd; SH7 Maruia Springs (east of Springs Junction); SH73 Arthur’s Pass (Otira Gorge); SH6 just south of The Forks (between Whataroa and Franz Josef).

If you aren't sure what can be moved to the South Island or you discover a swarm on your vehicle or load please call MAF BNZ toll free on 0800 80 99 66.

Management

Beekeepers in affected areas should monitor the mite levels within their hives and treat before numbers rise to damaging levels. Varroa cannot be eradicated, but can be controlled using various organic and inorganic miticides and possibly by selecting bees for tolerance to the mite. Movement of bees and associated equipment and other risk goods is restricted under the Controlled Area conditions.

Beekeepers in the South Island, Chatham and Stewart Islands should be inspecting and sampling their hives for varroa.

Visual examination of adult bees is not an effective way to monitor for varroa. However, infested hives may show the following signs:

  • Unexpectedly low bee numbers
  • A patchy brood pattern
  • Small reddish-brown mites on the bodies of bees, and on uncapped drone or worker pupae
  • Crawling bees near the hive entrance, often with damaged wings or no wings
  • Sudden population crashes, especially in the autumn when hives may have honey stores but no bees.

Media Releases

Contact Us

Customer Services Officer

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND

Phone: +64 4 894 0560
Fax: +64 4 894 0720

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