Landcare backs remote approach to surveillance to protect Australia's honey bees

By Nicky Phillips
Updated May 31 2015 - 10:18am, first published 5:44pm
If the invasive varroa mite arrives in Australia, it will wipe out many honey bee colonies. Photo: Brendan Esposito
If the invasive varroa mite arrives in Australia, it will wipe out many honey bee colonies. Photo: Brendan Esposito
A colony of bees infected with varroa mite was found inside a cable reel that had travelled on a cargo ship from Malaysia to Brisbane. Photo: Sam Malfroy
A colony of bees infected with varroa mite was found inside a cable reel that had travelled on a cargo ship from Malaysia to Brisbane. Photo: Sam Malfroy

The country's agriculture industry caught a lucky break in March when quarantine officials intercepted a colony of invasive bees carrying a disease that would have a catastrophic impact on food crops if it managed to establish in Australia.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

Get the latest Ballarat news in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.