Varroa mite detected 50km west of Sydney CBD as number of NSW infestations reaches 250
The number of premises infested with varroa mite in New South Wales has now reached 250.
Key points:
- Three new cases have been confirmed at Vineyard, Blackwall and Cuttabri
- An eradication zone has been extended further into the Sydney basin
- The source of the Kempsey cluster is yet to be identified
The NSW Department of Primary Industries has confirmed three new detections in Sydney, the Central Coast and in the state’s north west.
The deadly parasite has been found at Vineyard, 50 kilometres west of the Sydney CBD, in the Glenorie purple surveillance zone.
As a result of this detection, the red zone has been further extended into the Sydney basin and now takes in Windsor.
DPI deputy incident controller Shannon Mulholland said the detection was reported after a beekeeper carried out a mandatory 16-week alcohol wash test.
“The NSW DPI remains focused on tracing and will begin surveillance efforts within the 5km of the new infested premises,” she said.
Another detection was found at Blackwall in the Central Coast red eradication zone, and a new detection at Cuttabri, west of two infested premises at Narrabri and Boggabri in the state’s north west, has resulted in new red and purple zones established there.
The new infection at Cuttabri has been traced back to the Kempsey cluster, and to what was then a legal movement between blue zones.
Kempsey index case yet to be identified
Dr Mulholland said the goal remained to eradicate varroa mite from Australia.
“We know this is an incredibly difficult time for all beekeepers,” she said.
“The actions of beekeepers working in compliance with NSW DPI, particularly those in affected zones, is very much appreciated.”
The three new detections follow 11 new cases confirmed in the growing Kempsey cluster on the mid-north coast.
“We were expecting to find new infested premises within that Kempsey zone that’s why we are undertaking significant levels of surveillance in that area,” Dr Mulholland said.
“We’re still going through that delimitation phase, so what that means is that we’re still finding the true edge of that eradication zone and there will be work to come in surveillance over the coming weeks to complete that task.”
She said the source of the cluster was yet to be found.
“That’s still under investigation at the moment — I do believe we’re certainly getting closer to it but it does take time to get those answers,” she said.
“Once we have confirmed which site is the index case, that will answer how the mite got to Kempsey and how long it’s been circulating for.”
There are now 33 infested premises in the Kempsey cluster, with purple surveillance zones extending in the south to Port Macquarie, Yarrahappini National Park in the north, Moparrabah in the west, and east into the coastline.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2023-09-06/varroa-mite-infested-premises-nsw-reach-250/102819416 Varroa mite detected 50km west of Sydney CBD as number of NSW infestations reaches 250
