Deadly #varroa #mite threatens half of Canberra’s #beehives.

The varroa mite, is expected to wipe out half of the #ACT's 6,000 #bee hives within two years, putting local #fruit & #vegetable #crops at #risk.

Varroa mites are 1 to 2 millimetre-long parasites that attach to honey bees, eventually killing the bees and their colonies.

The ACT's first infestation was found in a hive in Kowen in April this year. #auspol #apiarist #BeeKeepers

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-29/act-varroa-mite-wipe-out-half-bees-two-years/106148658

First detected in South Australia's Riverland region in September, the #varroamite has since been found in numerous sites across the state, including the Limestone Coast, the Adelaide Hills and the Fleurieu Peninsula.

The number of detections has increased in recent weeks.

President of the #Beekeepers Society of SA, Bob Beer, said everyone was on high alert.

"The mite's move into the state has always been a case of not if, but when," he said.

#auspol #apiarist #bees

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-23/beekeepers-on-high-alert-varroa-mite-spreads-sa/106169566

#Australian #beekeepers are paying for #imported supermarket honey to be #tested for purity, with early results showing other products being added.

The industry tested 30 products, with some showing signs of adulteration.

#auspol #apiarist

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-10/testing-finds-some-imported-honey-not-honey/106119344

My local #apiarist (#beekeeper) has retired & moved away. ☹️

No more local #honey!

There are others around. Each about 25km’s away. Hmmm.

'Robber bees' invade apiarist's shop in attempted honey heist

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/robber-bees-terrace-bc-apiary-1.7627532

#HackerNews #RobberBees #HoneyHeist #Apiarist #News #BuzzingNature #BeeNews

#Varroa mite detected in #SouthAustralia for first time!

The discovery was made in a #beehive at #Pooginook in the state's Riverland during routine surveillance by PIRSA inspectors.

The infested hive is believed to have originated in a consignment of hives from Queensland. #auspol #bees #apiarist

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-03/varroa-mite-detected-in-south-australia-for-first-time/105731928

Saddest news I probably heard in 3 months.

Spoke to my #apiarist friend yesterday, the bees in my state have no honey to give this year.
The drought in the dryest state on the dryest continent was so bad.
#climate change 🥺

I knew this year was bad, because I couldn't find any shrooms, but it's BAD.

Tagging: @ai6yr

So there's this Greek myth that says Zeus was fed by bees when he was born. In gratitude, he blessed them with the color of "shining bronze", and made them immune to cold and harsh winds. These bees lived in Zeus' sacred cave in Crete, and aggressively chased away anyone who tried to steal their honey.

Any #apiarist or #entomology expert out there who could tell me what these bees are by any chance?...

#mythology #biology #nature #folklore #bees