National Varroa Mite Eradication Program

The National Varroa Mite Eradication Program was established in Townsville in 2016, when a nest of Asian honey bee (Apis cerana Java genotype) infested with Varroa jacobsoni mites was found at the Port of Townsville. The program was led by Biosecurity Queensland and was nationally funded through a partnership between industry, the Australian Government and all state and territory governments. On 1 July 2020, The National Management Group (NMG) agreed that the 2016 Incident of varroa mites in Townsville has been eradicated.

The program’s aim was to eradicate Varroa jacobsoni and minimise the impacts of the outbreak on affected businesses, communities and ancillary industries.

Extensive surveillance and monitoring activities were conducted as part of the program to ensure the mite had not spread. These included; floral sweeping, aerial pheromone trapping, catch box assessments, bee lining, managed hive surveillance, investigating public reports of suspected Asian honey bee and examining rainbow bee eater pellets for the presence of wings.

While a 2016 incursion had been eradicated, new incursions of Varroa jacobsoni were detected on Asian honey bee nests at the Port of Townsville in May 2019 and April 2020.

Genetic testing determined the detections were unrelated to each other, or any other recorded Australian incident of Asian honey bees.

On 06 August 2021, The National Management Group (NMG) agreed that the 2019 and 2020 Incidents of varroa mites in Townsville has been eradicated.