For many commercial and recreational beekeepers across Australia, the month of June means peak pollination season is on its way.
From the months of August to December, honey bees will be pollinating at a far higher rate, visiting fresh plants, fruits and vegetables.
However, there are fears that beekeepers may see a heavy reduction in the amount of bees in their colonies this season, due to the growing outbreak of varroa mites, with the Wheen Bee Foundation suggesting a shortage of 300,000 commercial bee hives for August 2026.
Commercial beekeeper, Min Fuller said her losses have only grown over time, and has warned other beekeepers that there are worrying times ahead.
“If our experiences don’t scare people, then I’m really worried,” Ms Fuller said.
“My losses with the first varroa over my first 550 day incursion was 137 hives.
“But that’s nothing compared to the second incursion where I lost 1380 hives.”
What is a varroa mite?
The varroa mite is an external parasite that feeds on the European honey bee, and is considered to be the bee’s primary enemy.
Since its arrival on Australian shores in June 2022 in Newcastle, the pests have invaded hives across the eastern side of the country, wiping out around 10 per cent of bee colonies a year.
Amateur Beekeepers Association Vice-President and biosecurity officer, Mike Allerton said that the mite had arrived earlier than reported.
“The reality is it had been here for 18 months to two years before that, and that allowed the mites to get a foothold broadly,” Mr Allerton said.
Mr Allerton also explained how a few mites could contaminate honey bees, making it hard to control as a collective.
“They’re already ready there to reproduce, and the reproduction that they do is exponential,” Mr Allerton said.
“So going unchecked, it’s an exponential growth. I mean, we’d all like compounding interest on our money, but we don’t want compounding interest on the mite.
“It gets out of hand extremely quickly, and that’s what’s happening now.”
With its continued growth, the varroa mite has significantly impacted colonies across the nation.
Acknowledging the present worsening conditions, compared to its first incursion in 2022, beekeepers and government officials have determined the mites are impossible to eradicate.
The crop crisis
Bees play an extremely important role in the production of crops, with more than two-thirds of Australia’s agricultural production being pollinated by bees.
Almonds, apples, blueberries and avocados are all fully reliant on pollination by bees, with these alongside other crops bringing millions of dollars into the economy.
However, according to Mr Allerton’s observations, the prevalence of varroa mites has resulted in a reduction of pollinated crops, which could potentially result in food insecurity.
“You’ve heard the phrase, a third of our food comes from bee pollination, but that also extends out to some of the food that animals eat,” Mr Allerton said.
“So livestock use the feed that has been pollinated by bees, extending into not just fruit and vegetables, but beef and other meat products.
“And what’s going to happen is our food security is going to collapse.”
Mr Allerton claims this could result in increased food prices later down the line, with honey also being largely affected.
“You’ve got beekeepers that are honey producers being paid a paltry amount of money for their product for the best honey in the world,” he said.
“So expect to see honey going up, but also food across the board to get a lot more expensive and harder to get in the next few years.”
What can be done?
The severity of the situation continues to hit those most affected the hardest.
With the costs of varroa mite management rising, Australian beekeepers are feeling the pressure, with a survey conducted by Ms Fuller this year showing 87 per cent of respondents’ businesses financially struggling due to management costs, and 91 per cent feeling that they are not getting the necessary amount of help.
“I honestly think if more people speak up, then something might actually happen,” Ms Fuller said.
“Even if it’s as small as, you know, assistance with treatments, I mean, some guys are literally going broke because they can’t afford to keep their bees alive.”
A 2024 survey from AgriFutures has shown NSW beekeepers spend 23.5 minutes and $21 a hive on varroa treatment alone.
For commercial beekeepers who hold 1000 hives or more, management equates to an extra $21,000 and 392 hours of additional labour per year.
With much needed help required, governing bodies have made attempts to step in.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has promised $9.5 million towards a Varroa Mite Management Plan for NSW, from January 2026 to June 2027.
The program will consist of a honey bee biosecurity program, education and training resources for commercial and recreational beekeepers, and $4.4 million invested into research that looks to develop key threats to beekeepers pollination reliant industries.
While these actions show signs of progress from some, Mr Allerton suggests there are certain bodies that need to come forward, specifically the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
“The APVMA, the government authority that governs what we can use to treat our bees, really needs to come to the fore and short circuit the approvals system,” he said.
Mr Allerton also mentioned using solutions other organisations outside of Australia have used to mitigate varroa, like Air New Zealand.
“Air New Zealand, for instance, has a program, a government legislation, that allows for own use exemption, which means that you can use organic treatments that are approved in the rest of the world on your own bees to keep your bees alive.
“So to me and a lot of other beekeepers, that would be a good way for the Australian government to approach it.”
Alongside the NSW Government, the Wheen Bee Foundation has directed $2.64 million towards an Australian Pollination Strategy, which aims to provide all industry stakeholders with a strategic plan that will sustain pollination, food security and natural ecosystems.
Wheen Been Foundation chief executive officer Fiona Chambers, in a media release, said that the funding sets up a much needed pathway to supporting the industry.
“We all know the challenges facing pollination in this country, from biosecurity issues and diseases, to increasing demand from industry, limited co-ordination in policy development and research, market dysfunction within the beekeeping industry, and environmental issues including reduced habitat and increasing use of pesticides,” Ms Chambers said.
“That’s why it is critical that we develop a plan for pollination that is informed by science, strategic in its vision and co-ordinated across all sectors.”
The Australian Pollination Strategy will be released in November 2027.
