PROBLEMS associated with dwindling bee populations in the northern hemisphere may not yet be affecting Australia, but Hunter bee enthusiasts warn they will, and we should act now.
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Jim Wright, a former paediatric surgeon and a life member of the Hunter Valley Amateur Beekeepers’ Association of NSW, said while a syndrome called “colony collapse” and the insidious Varroa mite had not yet reached our shores, greater awareness of these threats were essential to nipping them in the bud.
“It has been said, allegedly by Albert Einstein, that humankind would not survive more than a few years without the honeybee,” he said.
Dr Wright said commercial beekeepers in Australia already had their share of challenges, including rising costs, coping with diseases and pests, and competing with cheap, imported honey.
But the looming threat of the Varroa mite, which feeds on the blood of honeybees and leaves them with open wounds vulnerable to infection, was an ever-present concern. “Every continent except ours has the Varroa mite,” Dr Wright said. “But experts warn that with modern transport it is only a matter of time as to when, not if, it gets here.”
It has been said, allegedly by Albert Einstein, that humankind would not survive more than a few years without the honeybee.
- Jim Wright, Hunter Valley Amateur Beekeepers’ Association of NSW.
Another major concern in the northern hemisphere is the rising incidence of colony collapse, triggered by the older, foraging bees failing to return to the hive. Dr Wright said in this case, insecticides were considered a “major villain” because they interfered with the bee’s navigation and immune systems, leaving them unable to find home and prone to disease. The rest of the colony then died of malnutrition. He urged people to use insecticides with caution.
“Avoid them if possible, but otherwise, be careful not to use them during flowering periods when bees are around,” he said. “Buy Australian whenever possible to support our local beekeepers.”
Dr Wright said another “radical” way to help was to start your own hive. “You can have bees in the suburban environment. There are conditions, and a lot to learn, and the way to learn is to join a club.”
