National survey launched to tackle Varroa mite threat to honey bees
Australia’s beekeepers are being urged to complete the Australian honey bee colony loss (COLOSS) survey as part of a national effort to understand the impact of the Varroa mite (Varroa) outbreak and improve hive health management.
The survey is a crucial step in building a long-term dataset to support industry and government action to safeguard the agricultural industries dependent on the Australian honey bee population. The survey will collect vital data on beekeeping practices, colony losses and the costs and effectiveness of different Varroa management strategies.
Reaching Australian shores in 2022, Varroa is expected to cause significant and widespread declines in honey bee populations, impacting the honey bee industry and also a wide range of agricultural crops that rely on pollination.
Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) CEO Danny Le Feuvre emphasised the importance of the survey in tracking and mitigating Varroa’s impact.
“The Australian Colony Loss Survey will deliver invaluable baseline data that will help us understand and monitor hive health,” Le Feuvre said.
“This data will be crucial for decision-making by governments and industry stakeholders and will be used to inform future research and policy decisions, ultimately benefiting the entire beekeeping community.
“Importantly, the survey will also provide a fantastic peer-to-peer learning opportunity as beekeepers will be able to see how other beekeepers are managing Varroa.
“We are excited to see the positive impact the survey will have on our industry and how we can continue to work with others for the benefit of the industry.”
The survey will also have global significance, as it includes pre-Varroa data, offering unique insights into colony losses and beekeeping trends in Australia. This baseline will serve as the foundation for future annual surveys, enabling long-term monitoring of honey bee health.
The project is part of the National Varroa Transition to Management Program and managed by AHBIC and the AgriFutures Honey Bee & Pollination Program. The survey is led by a research consortium at the Australian National University (ANU).
Closing 10 March, the survey is voluntary, anonymous and takes approximately 7–15 min to complete. To find out more, visit coloss.au.
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