MELBOURNE PORT INTERCEPTION – NO. 2

The following report has come from the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council. [Original Link]

I would report that identification of the mites have come back as Varroa destructor Korean haplotype. This was as expected seeing as how the bees were from the USA.

Examination for deformed wing virus, slow bee paralysis virus and acute bee paralysis virus proved to be negative. This is an interesting find keeping in mind the debate on importation of drone bee seen and wanting to keep deformed wing virus out of Australia.

The Victorian Department are using State Quarantine Response Team (SQRT) members to carry out examination of hives within two (2) kilometres of the port. This is a precautionary measure and it is expected that there will be no varroa found.

Trevor Weatherhead AM
Executive Director
11 July, 2018

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