Guidance for managing pests and disease

Honey bees can be affected by a range of pests and diseases. It is mandatory to carry out regular hive inspections to assess the health of the hive. If you detect a pest or disease in any of your hives, you must carry out the appropriate steps to eradicate it, which may include notification to PIRSA.

National Transition to Management Plan

It is up to every state to use the national plan as a reference point for the development of a state plan. Here in SA, that work is being undertaken by the South Australian Varroa Industry Advisory Committee (SAVIAC). The BSSA has two representatives on this committee (Peter Mew and Trisha Blanks). Other members of SAVIAC include two representatives from the SAAA, as well as representatives from various pollination-dependent industries; the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) and a major beekeeper with significant experience in managing varroa both here and overseas. Work on the SA plan is progressing, with all committee members realising the importance of getting the plan 'right' to protect SA's borders for as long as possible, without crippling our important agricultural industries.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) in partnership with Tocal College are spearheading the NATIONAL VARROA MITE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM and are working tirelessly to ensure that beekeepers across the nation have access to information and education to ensure that we adopt best practice principles in how we manage our bees into the future. Find out more and keep updated here.

There are two free online varroa mite training courses available to beekeepers.

One provided by Tocal. Register and complete the training here.
One provided by the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (in conjunction with Plant Health Australia). Register and complete the training here.

In addition to webinars and online training, the National Varroa Mite Management Plan is making FACE TO FACE TRAINING available too. In South Australia, following a tender process, eight people with a wide variety of qualifications and experience in beekeeping were selected as the contract trainers for South Australia. We are very proud to say that five of the eight appointed contract trainers are members of the BSSA. Keep an eye out for the announcements that will be circulated via PIRSA to all registered beekeepers. Never has it been more important to be a registered beekeeper! If you know anyone who keeps bees and is not currently registered, please encourage them to register so that they too can be hooked into all the information, education and further resources that will be made available to registered beekeepers in the coming months.

If you detect or suspect varroa mite in your hives, email PIRSA.beebiosecurity@sa.gov.au or call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

American Foulbrood

Below are several links to assist you in identifying and managing American Foulbrood (AFB).

What is AFB? Provided by the Management Agency. National American Foulbrood Pest Management Plan New Zealand. Information includes: What is AFB, how it is caused, and the life cycle of AFB. The site includes videos, symptoms, infection and diagnosis and a five minute quiz to test your knowledge.

The Management Agency. National American Foulbrood Pest Management NZ have also developed an app for your smart phone that you can download here. The app is a convenient way to check the health of your hive whilst inspecting it. It includes photos and quiz questions to help you identify and diagnose AFB.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries has developed 'Guidelines for the identification and management of American Foulbrood'. The guidelines include information about the disease, signs and symptoms, how to manage the disease and your hive, what to do if AFB is detected and what the beekeepers responsibilities are to notify government authorities.