BUSINESS pollination services
Horticulture industry
champions will support
pollination services
The WA horticulture industry will play a critical role in supporting the honey bee industry to monitor acting as community and industry champions related to supporting bee health and wellbeing and beehive health, as the threat of the Varroa Destructor mite is on our doorstep.
Words Maree Gooch, Director, Value Creators
THE honey bee industry in WA is a multi-faceted sector with an estimated value of $50 million, including pollination services, which are critical for horticulture production, and honey production.
Melanie Tolich, Independent Chair of the Bee Industry Council of WA (BICWA) said:
“The honey bee industry is facing a critically devastating threat to bee and hive health from Varroa mite, which will affect pollination and production of honey.”
Economic impact
A recent AgriFutures’ report suggests bees support pollination services across 34 Australian agriculture industries. The dependency of so many crops, especially horticulture and vegetable production, on honey bees, highlights the critical role of bees in modern agriculture and why we all need to be vigilant.
Some crops are entirely reliant on bees for pollination This equates to 100 per cent reliance on insect pollinators, especially honey bees, to produce fruits, seeds, nuts, and vegetables. Without bees, the production of essential horticulture crops would be severely compromised. It is recognised that many crops may be pollinated by wild bees, which will also be significantly affected by Varroa Mite infestations in their hives.
Mrs Tolich added “Commercial beekeepers and hobbyist bee keepers alike will need to be vigilant. The bee industry appreciates the support of the horticulture industry and the community to keep an eye on the health of our bees”.
Varroa mite has been identified in New South Wales and recently in Victoria.
What is Varroa Mite and what does it do to bees
Varroa destructor mites are tiny, being approximately 1.1 x 1.5 mm in size, and feed on honey bees, weakening them, causing body and wing deformities and they are more susceptible to diseases. This devastating parasitic relationship leads to colony decline and high mortality rates.
The Varroa destructor mite (Varroa mite) is a major threat to the health, wellbeing and sustainability of the Australian honeybee industry and continues to be major threat to honeybee populations globally. Originating from Asia, it has spread to many parts of the world, causing significant damage to bee colonies.
Biosecurity and biodiversity
The mite’s impact extends beyond bee and hive health to affect agricultural production, biosecurity, ecosystems, and from experience, will cause significant economic disturbance due to the critical role in pollination that bees do.
The impact to WA’s ‘Clean and Green’ international trade image is potentially at risk too.
What can YOU do?
• If you or anyone you know has beehives, PLEASE be vigilant.
• Support beekeepers to maintain health hives and healthy bees.
• Register your hives – its actually legislated that all beekeepers must register with DPIRD, no matter how many hives you have at www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestock-biosecurity/registering-owner-stock-or-beekeeper.
• Complete the Hive Health Check at least once every year, in April during the Bee Pest Blitz — even better – complete Hive Health Checks quarterly and submit at www.planthealthaustralia.com.au/beepestblitz
• Talk to your neighbours and industry colleagues – share the importance of a collaborative approach.