Over six million bees were killed on the east coast Australia this week, an official said Wednesday, in an attempt to eradicate a destructive parasite that continues to spread despite the hive’s lockdown.
600 hives have been destroyed since the discovery of the “varroa destructor” mite. Each hive contained between 10,000 and 30,000 bees, the agriculture minister said. New Wales South, Dougald Saunders.
“That’s a lot of bees,” he said, noting that their numbers are likely to grow.
Honey bee ecologist Jay Iwasaki of the University of Adelaide described the small red-brown varroa mites as “little vampires” feeding on honey bees.
They can also spread “some very serious viruses” through non-native honey bee colonies. Australiabut they are vital to the country’s agricultural industry, he said.
Australia It is the only country producing honey where the tick is not endemic, which has led to the immobilization of hives after it was found on the border of the country earlier this week.
Hives within a 10 km radius of the four areas where varroa mites have been found must be destroyed, and hives in other parts N.S.W. they will not be able to move hives, bees, honey or honeycombs until further notice.
The State Department of Primary Industries said the measures were intended to “ensure the eradication of the parasite.”
(AFP)
Source: RPP
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