'Not enough' bees for crop pollination as parasite takes over
The Australian bee industry is facing a significant crisis due to the varroa mite, which has decimated bee populations. A report predicts a shortfall of nearly 300,000 beehives for the upcoming crop pollination season, leading to fears of crop failures. Many beekeepers are leaving the industry due to the financial and labor pressures associated with managing the parasite.
- ▪The varroa mite has wiped out at least 60 percent of bee hives in Australia.
- ▪The predicted shortfall of 290,000 hives is expected to impact various crops, including almonds and cherries.
- ▪Half of Australia's beekeepers are considering quitting due to the costs and challenges of managing varroa mite.
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Crop failure fears as deadly bee parasite wipes out hives and forces beekeepers to quitBy Warwick Long, Angus Verley and Danielle PopeABC RuralTopic:BeekeepingThu 4 Jun 2026 at 10:59amThu 4 Jun 2026 at 10:59amThu 4 Jun 2026 at 10:59amPeter McDonald says many bee businesses won't survive the varroa mite crisis. (Supplied: Keely McDonald)In short:A new report has predicted a shortfall of close to 300,000 beehives for this year's peak crop pollination season in August, as the deadly parasite varroa mite wipes out bees.The cost of managing varroa and the development of insecticide resistance is forcing half of Australia's beekeepers to quit.What's next?Industry groups and researchers are developing a national strategy to secure pollination in…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).