Australia on Wednesday abandoned its fight to eradicate the destructive Varroa mite, an invasive parasite responsible for the collapse of honeybee populations across the planet.

Desperate to keep Varroa out of the country, authorities have destroyed more than 14,000 infected beehives since the tiny red-brown pest was first detected north of Sydney in June 2022.

The government on Wednesday conceded its US$64 million eradication plan could not stop the mite from spreading, saying the country's beekeepers should now prepare to live with the incursion.

"The recent spike in new detections have made it clear that the Varroa mite infestation is more widespread and has also been present for longer than first thought," officials said in a statement.

Australia was one of the last major beekeeping countries to successfully keep Varroa at bay.

Smaller than a peppercorn, Varroa mites attach themselves to honeybees and slowly feast on their body tissue from the outside -- eventually spreading through hives and causing colony collapse.

They are the "most serious pest of honeybees worldwide", according to the Australian government.

Australian National University ecologist Saul Cunningham said the Varroa infestation would also damage agricultural industries reliant on pollination.

"Varroa mite will cause significant economic damage in agriculture, and so it is vital that we focus on adaptation to life with Varroa," Cunningham said.

Australia's native honeybees have proven resilient to Varroa mites but do not currently play a major role in honey production or agricultural pollination.

University of Sunshine Coast researcher Volker Herzig said the "final nail in the coffin" was a government decision that allowed beekeepers to transport their hives across state boundaries to help with pollination.

Every year, some 270,000 beehives are trucked into the state of Victoria to pollinate almond orchards -- an annual pilgrimage billed as the "largest movement of livestock" in Australia.

Herzig said Australia must "now find permanent solutions for managing our beehives", which "most other countries around the world" have been doing for years.

The government's decision was "quite a shock", said native bee researcher James Dorey of Flinders University.

"The impacts of this decision will be felt for decades to come in how beekeepers manage their hives and how farmers pollinate their crops," he said.

"In particular, farmers may not be able to rely on passive pollination from feral honeybees any longer."

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Australia on Wednesday abandoned its fight to eradicate the destructive Varroa mite, an invasive parasite responsible for the collapse of honeybee populations across the planet.

Australia on Wednesday abandoned its fight to eradicate the destructive Varroa mite, an invasive parasite responsible for the collapse of honeybee populations across the planet. Desperate to keep Varroa out of the country, authorities have destroyed more than 14,000 infected beehives since the tiny red-brown pest was first detected north of Sydney in June 2022. The government on Wednesday conceded its US$64 million eradication plan could not stop the mite from spreading, saying the country's beekeepers should now prepare to live with the incursion. "The recent spike in new detections have made it clear that the Varroa mite infestation is more widespread and has also been present for longer than first thought," officials said in a statement. Australia was one of the last major beekeeping countries to successfully keep Varroa at bay. Smaller than a peppercorn, Varroa mites attach themselves to honeybees and slowly feast on their body tissue from the outside -- eventually spreading through hives and causing colony collapse. They are the "most serious pest of honeybees worldwide", according to the Australian government. Australian National University ecologist Saul Cunningham said the Varroa infestation would also damage agricultural industries reliant on pollination. "Varroa mite will cause significant economic damage in agriculture, and so it is vital that we focus on adaptation to life with Varroa," Cunningham said. Australia's native honeybees have proven resilient to Varroa mites but do not currently play a major role in honey production or agricultural pollination. University of Sunshine Coast researcher Volker Herzig said the "final nail in the coffin" was a government decision that allowed beekeepers to transport their hives across state boundaries to help with pollination. Every year, some 270,000 beehives are trucked into the state of Victoria to pollinate almond orchards -- an annual pilgrimage billed as the "largest movement of livestock" in Australia. Herzig said Australia must "now find permanent solutions for managing our beehives", which "most other countries around the world" have been doing for years. The government's decision was "quite a shock", said native bee researcher James Dorey of Flinders University. "The impacts of this decision will be felt for decades to come in how beekeepers manage their hives and how farmers pollinate their crops," he said. "In particular, farmers may not be able to rely on passive pollination from feral honeybees any longer." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australia gives up fight to eradicate bee-killing parasite

As per an annual bee survey conducted by the University of Maryland and Auburn University, honeybee hives in the United States have experienced the second highest death rate on record, with beekeepers losing nearly half of their managed colonies. However, despite this staggering loss, the survey also found that the overall number of honeybee colonies in the country has remained relatively stable, reported the Associated Press.

Honeybees play a vital role in pollinating more than 100 crops, including nuts, vegetables, berries, citrus fruits, and melons. Scientists attribute the high mortality rate to a combination of factors, including parasites, pesticides, starvation, and the effects of climate change.

The survey reports that the 48 per cent&nbsp;loss of colonies in the past year is higher than the previous year's loss of 39% and the 12-year average of 39.6 per cent.&nbsp;However, it is not as severe as the 50.8 per cent&nbsp;mortality rate observed in the 2020-2021 period. Beekeepers participating in the survey indicated that a 21 per cent&nbsp;loss over the winter is deemed acceptable, yet more than three-fifths of them reported losses higher than threshold.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/fierce-heat-of-el-nino-may-be-carrying-risk-of-resurgent-deadly-viruses-608252">Fierce heat of El Nino may be carrying risk of resurgent deadly viruses, warns WHO</a>

To maintain the overall population of honeybee colonies, commercial beekeepers invest significant resources in splitting and restocking their hives. This involves finding or purchasing new queens or even starter packs for colonies, which is an expensive and time-consuming process. This approach has helped beekeepers rebound from substantial losses, contributing to the relative stability of the bee colony population.

<h2>Combination of factors including parasites, pesticides, starvation, and climate change lead to significant die-offs</h2>

While the current situation is far from the crisis observed 15 years ago, when managed pollination was under serious threat, challenges persist. Experts believe that honeybees will not go extinct but will continue to face environmental threats. The varying degrees of colony losses experienced by different beekeepers demonstrate the unpredictable nature of these challenges. Factors such as parasitic mites, bad weather, queen issues, and pesticides further compound the difficulties faced by honeybees.

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor, which transmits viruses, is identified as the primary culprit behind honeybee losses. Pesticides exacerbate the problem by weakening bees' immune systems and reducing their ability to seek food. Even small infestations of varroa in colonies can have devastating effects, as they make bees more susceptible to viruses.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-authorities-seize-millions-of-illegal-vapes-in-three-years-shows-data-608229">UK: Authorities seize millions of illegal vapes in three years, shows data</a>

Other contributing factors include landscapes dominated by a single crop, which deprive bees of diverse food sources, as well as bouts of extreme weather. Despite these challenges, the demand for pollination from commercial bee colonies continues to grow, necessitating increased efforts from beekeepers to replenish their losses. The honeybee's crucial role in pollinating insect-dependent plants highlights the importance of addressing the threats and finding sustainable solutions to protect these vital pollinators.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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As per an annual bee survey conducted by the University of Maryland and Auburn University, honeybee hives in the United States have experienced the second highest death rate on record, with beekeepers losing nearly half of their managed colonies.

As per an annual bee survey conducted by the University of Maryland and Auburn University, honeybee hives in the United States have experienced the second highest death rate on record, with beekeepers losing nearly half of their managed colonies. However, despite this staggering loss, the survey also found that the overall number of honeybee colonies in the country has remained relatively stable, reported the Associated Press. Honeybees play a vital role in pollinating more than 100 crops, including nuts, vegetables, berries, citrus fruits, and melons. Scientists attribute the high mortality rate to a combination of factors, including parasites, pesticides, starvation, and the effects of climate change. The survey reports that the 48 per cent loss of colonies in the past year is higher than the previous year's loss of 39% and the 12-year average of 39.6 per cent. However, it is not as severe as the 50.8 per cent mortality rate observed in the 2020-2021 period. Beekeepers participating in the survey indicated that a 21 per cent loss over the winter is deemed acceptable, yet more than three-fifths of them reported losses higher than threshold. Also read | Fierce heat of El Nino may be carrying risk of resurgent deadly viruses, warns WHO To maintain the overall population of honeybee colonies, commercial beekeepers invest significant resources in splitting and restocking their hives. This involves finding or purchasing new queens or even starter packs for colonies, which is an expensive and time-consuming process. This approach has helped beekeepers rebound from substantial losses, contributing to the relative stability of the bee colony population. Combination of factors including parasites, pesticides, starvation, and climate change lead to significant die-offs While the current situation is far from the crisis observed 15 years ago, when managed pollination was under serious threat, challenges persist. Experts believe that honeybees will not go extinct but will continue to face environmental threats. The varying degrees of colony losses experienced by different beekeepers demonstrate the unpredictable nature of these challenges. Factors such as parasitic mites, bad weather, queen issues, and pesticides further compound the difficulties faced by honeybees. The parasitic mite Varroa destructor, which transmits viruses, is identified as the primary culprit behind honeybee losses. Pesticides exacerbate the problem by weakening bees' immune systems and reducing their ability to seek food. Even small infestations of varroa in colonies can have devastating effects, as they make bees more susceptible to viruses. Also read | UK: Authorities seize millions of illegal vapes in three years, shows data Other contributing factors include landscapes dominated by a single crop, which deprive bees of diverse food sources, as well as bouts of extreme weather. Despite these challenges, the demand for pollination from commercial bee colonies continues to grow, necessitating increased efforts from beekeepers to replenish their losses. The honeybee's crucial role in pollinating insect-dependent plants highlights the importance of addressing the threats and finding sustainable solutions to protect these vital pollinators. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US beekeepers fight to replenish honeybee colonies amid high death rates

In India, Beekeepers in J&K faces challenge amid COVID-19 lockdown. Beekeepers are unable to deliver products to domestic as well as international markets.

India: Beekeepers in J&K faces challenge amid COVID-19 lockdown

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Australia gives up fight to eradicate bee-killing parasite

US beekeepers fight to replenish honeybee colonies amid high death rates

India: Beekeepers in J&K faces challenge amid COVID-19 lockdown