Varroa mite
Varroa destructor (Varroa mite) was first detected in Australia in June 2022 and is now considered established in NSW. Varroa poses a significant threat to Australia's bee and pollination-dependent industries.
The department is dedicated to supporting beekeeping industry capacity to manage Varroa mite through research and development, education and extension programs.
Resistance
Pyrethroid and amitraz resistance was recently confirmed in varroa mites in NSW. NSW DPIRD is tracing bee movements and testing apiaries linked to these detections to determine how widely the resistant mites have spread within NSW. There are actions you can take to manage resistance in your hives, including implementing integrated pest management techniques.
Report Varroa
Beekeepers must regularly inspect their hives for pests and diseases. Beekeepers must report the first instance of Varroa detected in their hives.
You only need to report Varroa mite once. If you’ve already notified NSW DPIRD about the presence of Varroa mite in your hives, you do not need to report it again.
This means if you are one of the several thousand registered beekeepers in NSW who have already notified the presence of Varroa mite in your hives, you do not need to notify again.
However, if you have Varroa mite and have never reported it, you are legally required to notify the Department.
Contact a Bee Biosecurity Officer
The department works closely with the bee industry and other agencies to raise bee biosecurity awareness. Bee Biosecurity Officers are available to assist NSW beekeepers adopt best practice and provide advice regarding pest and disease management. Rod Bourke, Sam Giggins, Daniel Martin, Alex Schellenberg, Harvey Howard, and Doug Purdie have extensive beekeeping experience across a spectrum of beekeeping operations.
Contact the team by emailing bee.biosecurity@dpird.nsw.gov.au and a Bee Biosecurity Officer near you will help you with any pest or disease issues you're facing. The team are also available to visit beekeeping clubs/branches or attend field days.
Varroa mite legislation
Links to the The Biosecurity Act 2015 and all subordinate legislation including Biosecurity Regulation 2017 are available here.
Your wellbeing
The Varroa mite emergency response and ongoing Varroa management has impacted the mental and emotional wellbeing of many beekeepers.
Stressful events can cause feelings of worry and unease, especially where there are levels of uncertainty involved, but there are things you can do to take care of yourself.
In tough times it is important to remember to look after yourself. As much as possible, maintaining routines with good diet, exercise, and sleep will increase your capacity to deal with stress.
This is the time to stay connected with family and friends and seek for support when you need it.
There are free and confidential support services available to all beekeepers, and we encourage beekeepers to access small business and mental health and wellbeing support early.
Mental health support is available from:
- NSW Mental Health Line, 1800 011 511 (24/7)
- Beyond Blue, 1300 22 46 36
- Lifeline, 13 11 14
- Rural Adversity Mental Health Program
- Rural Aid Mental Health & Wellbeing Line (Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm), 1300 175 594
Small business support is available to beekeepers through:
- Rural Financial Counselling Service on 1800 344 090
Varroa Emergency Response
Varroa incursion history
Varroa mite was first detected in DPIRD surveillance hives at the Port of Newcastle in June 2022. The National Varroa Mite Emergency Response (the response) was established immediately and became a national response funded and supported by Commonwealth, state and territory governments as well as contributing industries.
The response quickly became the largest multi-agency plant biosecurity response in Australia's history, and sought to carefully manage biosecurity risk, protect agricultural industry and maintain business continuity.
The response was overseen by the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP) and the National Management Group (NMG). The NMG is made up of representatives from the Federal Government, every state and territory department and executives from relevant peak industry bodies and Plant Health Australia.
On 13 February 2024 the NMG approved the next phase of the national Transition to Management (T2M) plan for Varroa mite. The T2M plan aimed to increase resilience and minimise ongoing impacts of Varroa mite naturalisation across Australia's honeybee and pollination-dependent industries.
This phase of the plan focused on increased training to help beekeepers prepare and manage the pest.
What does transition to management of Varroa mite mean?
The Transition to Management Program aimed to increase resilience and capacity to manage Varroa mite within the Australian honeybee industry, thereby minimising the impact of Varroa mite naturalisation on honeybee and pollination reliant industries. This has occurred through slowing the spread, building industry resilience, providing management options and supporting pollination security.
On 6 February 2026 the T2M National Varroa Mite Management Program ceased. Highlights from the program include:
- VDO’s carried out 8,704 beekeeper engagements
- 121 workshops to over 8,000 beekeepers
- Training for queen bee breeders
- 14 webinars hosted by the program viewed by 4,908 people
- 48 contract trainers employed
- Developed online training options
- Created over 100 resources
- Completed National benchmarking of bee viruses and Queen Bee Sector Report
- More than 150 e-newsletters delivered to 14,000 inboxes
National Varroa Mite Response Plan
To find out more about the current National Varroa Mite Response Plan you can read the following response plan summaries.
