Beekeepers say varroa mites attacks crippling their colonies have spread too for eradication efforts to succeed.
  • The varroa mite, a parasite that feeds on adult bees and their larvae, is spreading rapidly in parts of NSW.
  • The government needs to consider a change in approach, as the situation is getting out of control.
  • The NSW Nationals leader calls for abandoning the eradication plan, as no country has been successful in eliminating the parasite once established.
  • The majority of members in the Honey Bee Industry Council want to switch to a management plan instead of eradication.
  • The Tasmanian Beekeepers Association believes that the pest should not be allowed to spread beyond NSW, as eradication is becoming increasingly challenging.