12 May 2000

Further Bay of Plenty varroa finds

Low levels of varroa infection have been detected on three small apiaries within two km. of the Te Puke Infected Place.

MAF programme co-ordinator Matthew Stone says that these finds are a result of the high priority being placed on this critical area. The first phase of the Bay of Plenty response is testing apiary sites in the vicinity of the infected dump site, with further steps including the tracing all orchards serviced by bees now on the original Te Puke infected site, identifying beekeepers surrounding those orchards; and inspecting the hives of those beekeepers. Dr Stone says that while this is a significant task, early indications are that few orchards have been serviced by the suspect bees.

Dr Stone says that MAF is hoping that Auckland's weather is favourable for the Hobbyist Beekeepers Seminar this weekend at the Allenby Park Motor Inn, Papatoetoe. He says while it is designed for the hobbyists, commercial and unregistered beekeepers are also welcome. Tomorrow two technical sessions (9-11am and 1-3pm) will instruct hobby beekeepers on how to test their hives with kits they will later receive. Clear instructions on the use of the kits will be issued, registration forms (if necessary) and contracts regarding the use and return of those kits will be signed. Weather permitting, beekeepers will return with their samples on Sunday for analysis. If the weather does not permit the placing and collection of materials, the collection day may be postponed until Monday.

As part of MAF's diagnostic programme, some of the varroa mites found here have been sent to Australia for DNA analysis. Yesterday results from tests in the USA confirmed the mite found here as the Russian type of varroa jacobsoni; the same variety that has had significant impacts in both Europe and the United States of America.

Two new infected placed have also been identified in the original Infected Zone. The total number of Infected Places is now 182 on apiaries owned by 62 beekeepers. 1,686 apiaries have now been visited, and the total number of hives on visited apiaries is 32, 301.

The movement permit free-phone operation (0800 109 383) received 11 new requests for permits; with eight issued, one declined and two requiring further work.