AS feral hives of the dreaded Asian honeybee continue to be detected in Queensland, mega money is being channelled into protecting and learning more about Australia's current pint-sized pollinators.
Asian honeybees present a risk because they are a prime host for the destructive Varroa mite, a pest which can destroy entire bee colonies and therefore jeopardise the pollination of everything from lucerne to almonds.
Australia is the last country in the world to be largely free of the parasitic Varroa mite however Varroa mites were found last month on Asian honeybees in Townsville.
The latest detection of Asian honeybees occurred last week when a major nest of about 5000 was located within a wine barrel used as a table on a Hyde Park family’s verandah.
Authorities destroyed the nest and confirmed there were no Varroa mites found in the nest or on the bees.
Government, horticulture bodies, commercial seed companies and research institutions have all pounced on the urgency of the Asian honeybee offence with more than $10 million being committed to various projects in the past year.
Australia is also looking to both New Zealand and India to help bolster the intellectual resources to sure-up a future for bees.
While the fight is on to contain both the rogue bees and the mites in the country's north, a $7 million five-year collaboration program has been launched to safeguard fruit and vegetable crops, and insect pollinators.
Australian and Indian researchers are pooling efforts, with backing from Western Sydney University, Bayer CropScience, Syngenta Asia-Pacific and Greening Australia.
The program is being executed with support from Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA) through its strategic co-investment Pollination Fund.
The multifaceted project will operate in parallel to the All India Coordinated Research Program (AICRP) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research on Honey Bee Health and Training, which is being conducted through 26 research centres across India.
AICRP India project coordinator Professor RK Thakur said the research will help conserve diverse pollinator resources and enhance the productivity of agricultural and horticultural crops in both India and Australia.
“Increased floral biodiversity on farms can stabilise pollinator populations and contribute to resilience and profitability of farm operations,” he said.
Western Sydney University project leader Professor James Cook said the research will develop new strategies to help landowners and growers safeguard the health of pollinating insects.
“Given the fundamental importance of bees and other pollinators to successful crop harvests and the health of natural ecosystems, there is a significant lack of detailed knowledge about their overall health and wellbeing,” he said.
“Researchers will map the health of pollinating insects such as honeybees, native stingless and solitary bees, and outline the resources needed to support them.”
The research will focus on:
- Characterising and securing alternative pollinators: Reducing the dependence on honeybees by identifying the roles of different insect pollinators in the pollination of key horticultural crops in field situations.
- Increasing pollen and nectar on farms: Developing an understanding of the contribution of floral resource species to bee colony and population health, and devise farm-level floral enhancement schemes.
- The affects of climate change on pollinators: Testing how climate manipulations influence the timing, quality and quantity of nectar and pollen available to bees.
- Bee virus research: Determining what viruses are harboured by native bees and to what extent these are shared by honeybees.
- Grower involvement and adoption: Informing and educating growers and land managers about bee population health - floral resources, diseases, soil and pest management.
Professor Cook said if Varroa takes hold in Australia, it will decimate populations of both managed and wild European honeybees, making growers and consumers more reliant on native pollinators.
Help from across the ditch
EARLIER this month, assistant minister for agriculture and water resources Senator Anne Ruston, launched a project involving HIA teaming up with Plant and Food Research New Zealand (PFRNZ) to strengthen Australia’s defences against Varroa mite.
Ms Ruston said the five-year project, which will receive a total of $5 million in joint funding from HIA and PFRNZ, will identify how to eradicate bee diseases or manage them if they become established in Australia.
Ms Ruston said the nation couldn't afford to let its guard down.
“The recent Queensland Varroa jacobsoni discoveries have been managed, but they highlight the need to be alert and prepared," Ms Ruston said.
“Fortunately for our farmers, Varroa destructor has not been detected in Australia.
“Plant and Food Research New Zealand is well-placed to provide advice on Varroa response and control, with the pest having been in their country for more than a decade."
She said the project will, for the first time, determine current pollination requirements for specific fruit, vegetable and nut species, and provide honey-bee stocking rate recommendations.
“While our intent and focus to stop Varroa from establishing here continues, moving to improve pollination practices now will prepare industries and will also lead to significant benefits in crop yields in the short term," Ms Ruston said.
HIA chief executive John Lloyd said if the more damaging Varroa destructor mite took hold in Australia, it would affect colonies of bees, having a significant negative impact on hive availability for pollination, and potentially devastate the livelihoods of certain growers whose produce relies solely on bee pollination.
“It’s vital that we safeguard the nation’s supply of honey bee pollination dependant fruit, nuts and vegetables, and arm the beekeeping industry with the tools it needs to respond to a Varroa outbreak,” Mr Lloyd said.
Currently, HIA has invested more than $13 million in pollination-related projects, largely funded using industry levies and funds from the Australian Government.
Traps rise to the challenge
A RESPONSE team in Townsville has utilised innovative ways to fight the mite, including the use of balloon bee traps where baits have been placed on helium filled balloons.
The balloons were flown at a height of 15 metres at key sites in the Townsville surveillance zone between 1.30pm and 2.15pm in the afternoon, which was the peak flying time for male Asian honeybees.
Varroa mite response director Dr Ashley Bunce said the balloon technique has been successfully used in the southern states to trap European honeybees and also adapted by the University of Sydney for trapping Asian honey bees around Cairns.
“We are confident that the balloon technique will be a successful addition to our surveillance tools,” Dr Bunce said.
Professor Cook said protecting the future of bee colonies and sourcing other pollinators has never been more important.
“Australia is the last country in the world that is free of the parasitic Varroa mite that is thought to be a major factor behind widespread colony collapses in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan,” he said.
“These tiny mites attach themselves to bees inside hives and feed from the bees, causing open wounds and transmitting viral diseases."
Further bee research by the Dr Nadine Chapman and Professor Ben Oldroyd from the University of Sydney as part of the Honey Bee and Pollination Program has seen the development of a genetic test to differentiate Africanised bees from non-Africanised bees to allow imports of honeybee semen from countries that have desirable stock, but also have Africanised bees.
Africanised bees are hybrids of European honeybees and A. m. capensis from Africa that are highly aggressive, unsuitable for beekeeping, and extremely invasive.
Queensland residents are being asked to report any unusual bees, particularly swarms or nests, by phoning 13 25 23.