Varroa Mite Detection in Far North Queensland Sparks Biosecurity Concerns

A devastating honey bee parasite has been detected in Far North Queensland, marking the northernmost incursion in Australia. The Varroa destructor mite was confirmed in two locations near Cairns on September 7, with a third suspected detection near Innisfail.

The detections, which are approximately 120 kilometres south of Cairns, are about 1,000km north of the previous northernmost incursion. According to Rob Stephens, Manager of Biosecurity Queensland's varroa mite innovation and resilience initiative, the significant jump in distance is likely due to human-assisted movement of hives from south-east Queensland.

"The identified hives have been successfully destroyed at the discretion of the beekeeper," he said.

"The threat is still there that there could have been further spread."

Surveillance has confirmed a third suspect detection in Innisfail, which is not thought to be linked to the previous two detections. Varroa mite was first detected in Queensland in March 2025 and has since spread across 26 local government areas.

"We had our first detection in Gladstone in central Queensland in August, and just yesterday we confirmed a detection in Blackwater in the Central Highlands region," Mr Stephens said.

"Naturally, we would only really be expecting the varroa to probably move about 10 kilometres a year, maybe a little bit more."

"But with that human-assisted spread, it could move anywhere."

Mr Stephens urged beekeepers to be vigilant and test their hives monthly, as there is a risk the mite has spread further. He also noted that pollination-reliant industries require commercial beekeepers to move their hives around, which can contribute to the spread of the mite.

"We do expect you're going to get that natural spread, but you also are expecting human-assisted spread again because beekeepers are migratory by nature," Mr Stephens said.

"Pollination-reliant industries require commercial beekeepers to move their hives around."

"Unfortunately, it is a matter of time before we expect to see varroa mite endemic all throughout Queensland."

The Department of Primary Industries has a varroa mite surveillance map available online demonstrating where the pest has been detected within the state.

This month marks one full year since varroa mite was detected in South Australia, believed to have been brought in from a hive in Queensland. Australian Honey Bee Industry Council chief executive Danny Le Ferve said the mite had spread across the state in those 12 months.

"Honeybees need to move in order for those beekeepers to make money," he said.

"Ultimately there is no way of stopping it spreading because it is spread right across the globe and it doesn't respect borders or lines in sand."

Mr Le Ferve expressed concern about the impact of the mite on feral bees, noting that while they had not been majorly impacted in South Australia yet, it was inevitable.

"What we've seen in New South Wales, it takes a little while, but it completely wipes out those unmanaged feral bay colonies," he said.

"It might not be quite as impactful as what we've seen on the east coast," he said.