A concerning number of amateur apiarists across the Mount Alexander Shire and beyond have reported bee/hive losses in recent months.
While many attribute this to the bee-killing Varroa mite (Varroa destructor), some say they are unsure of a clear cause.
One local amateur beekeeper told the Express they lost four hives, but only one showed clear indications of varroa.
A local professional beekeeper who is responsible for the management of a large number of bee colonies in the local region reported 90% of his bees had died.
Amateur beekeeper Sal Beattie said she had managed to treat and save her bees, but four of her friends were devastated to have lost longstanding colonies.
“None of them tested for varroa before winter and unfortunately the onset was so rapid, we didn’t have time to learn from each other,” Sal said.
“I’m a beginner beekeeper and was lucky to be mentored by someone who’d recently tested and treated his own hives. We were moving my bees into a new hive with a varroa tray in late April and he suggested I test them.
“It was brutal. I had to kill nurse bees in an alcohol wash, but we did detect varroa. My mentor had a vaporiser so we did four treatments with oxalic acid, five days apart,” she said.
“The bees are going strong. I’m so glad to have had that connection. There’ll likely be a few savage years of varroa and treatments required before things settle into a routine for local beekeepers,” Sal said.
The McDonald family of Castlemaine Honey have kept bees in the local region for more than 140 years.
Fifth generation beekeeper Peter McDonald said varroa was a very real and present problem that all beekeepers in the eastern states were now facing and they too had been experiencing difficulties.
“It will also have broad-reaching impacts on our food security, affecting pollination everywhere from orchards and crops to the local home gardener,” he said.
“Varroa mite itself can rapidly lead to honeybee colony collapse, but it also places significant additional pressure on honeybee health.
“Leading into winter, it is a major factor on whether hives survive. It also makes honeybees more susceptible to the range of other honeybee diseases they can contract, as well as weakening a colony, which can impact their capacity to forage for adequate pollen and nectar.
“For us, our approach is to become even more intensive in checking our beehives to make sure the mite is not adversely affecting them.
“When we do find varroa numbers getting higher we will proactively administer an appropriate treatment based on our integrated pest management system and what is most effective and gentle on the bees.
“Local beekeepers also need to be aware that Australia has now identified a treatment resistant Varroa mite that has been spreading. This means monitoring hives is of even greater importance to ensure that each treatment is working as it should,” McDonald said.
Warral Honey Maldon owner and fifth generation beekeeper Lindsay Callaway said varroa had been declared endemic for three years now.
“In that time there has been numerous communications both nationally and statewide re moving to living with varroa,” he said.
“There are numerous beekeeping clubs across Victoria including a vibrant and friendly one in our local region – the Bendigo Branch Victorian Apiarist Association. They meet monthly and in fact held their 45th annual field day at Harcourt Recreation Reserve last Sunday October 11 where varroa was a hot topic.
“Beekeepers of all sizes now more than ever need to be looking after their hives to help them survive. No longer can hives be a feel-good thing to have in the backyard. Beekeepers need to monitor for mites regularly and learn how to treat their hives for mites.
“There is a lot of good information on the VAA website vicbeekeepers.com.au.”
VAA also has a YouTube Channel where you can learn more about how to treat and care for your bees.
Agriculture Victoria also has a good range of information at agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/honey-bees
“The key is to monitor, monitor, monitor. The only silver bullet our bees have is our ability to look after them,” Callaway said.