News & Events

Varroa mites detected again at Townsville Port

14/06/2019 – 11:40 am Varroa mites have been detected on an Asian honey bee nest that was recently found and destroyed at the Port of Townsville. The nest was located on 16 May 2019 as a result of bee lining activities where foraging bees are tracked. Combs and bees collected from the nest were sent to the Brisbane Biosecurity […] Read more

It’s a buzz

05/06/2019 – 9:33 am Native bee enthusiasts and professionals alike are in a buzz of excitement with the formation their own member organisation, the Australian Native Bee Association. President Dr Tim Heard said: “The association will harness and spread the enthusiasm for native bees by many groups including naturalists, beekeepers, farmers and backyarders.” The Australian Native Bee Association aims […] Read more

How surveillance protects our bees

25/03/2019 – 11:45 am Surveillance for bee pests from overseas is essential to maintaining a healthy bee population in Australia and protecting our beekeeping industry. The National Bee Pest Surveillance Program (NBPSP) monitors for the presence of exotic bee pests and pest bees, as well as regionalised bee pests, across 32 sea and air ports. Dr Jenny Shanks, Bee […] Read more

Western Australia a sweet spot for beekeeping

15/03/2019 – 1:45 pm Western Australians’ affinity with beekeeping continues to grow, with the number of registered beekeepers across the State surpassing the 3000 mark this week. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development records show the number of registered beekeepers have grown from 660 in 2010 to 3005 beekeepers caring for more than 45,860 beehives. Department livestock biosecurity director […] Read more

Ten reasons why the Code of Practice is good a thing

12/11/2018 – 8:32 am The Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice sets requirements for beekeepers that provide a framework for implementing biosecurity best practices. The Code is part of the National Bee Biosecurity Program and was developed by Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) in collaboration with state and federal governments. Recently, Peter McDonald, the Chair of […] Read more