Saving Our Native Bees – Is there another way to deal with Varroa Mite?

On the 18th of February Community Voice Australia- Central Coast hosted a talk featuring Simon Mulvany founder of Save the Bees Australia and Jillaby bee hive owner Dolfi Benesh, whose hives were destroyed by the Dept of Primary Industries.

Currently the NSW Dept. of Primary Industries (DPI) is using Fipronil to kill wild European honey bees in the Central Coast, this has disturbing implications for native bees, insects, birds and mammals and can stay toxic for three years. The Australian Native Bee Association (ANBA) states “The pesticide, Fipronil, is being used in a baiting program in the Red Zones. This pesticide is highly toxic to stingless bees and may remain active within these areas for up to three years.”

The ANBA states “Feral European honeybees will collect toxic sugar syrup and take it back to their nests inside hollow trees. In due course the feral nests will die, leaving substantial stores of honey which will be contaminated with Fipronil inside the trees. The Fipronil may continue to remain toxic in these areas for up to three years. Unfortunately, native stingless bees and other nectar-feeding insects, reptiles, birds, and mammals may visit dead feral European honeybee nests and collect contaminated honey. Some of these native insects and animals may die from Fipronil poisoning.”

Fipronil has already been banned in the UK and Europe because it kills bees. Yet the Fipronil rollout has been approved by Australia’s national regulator, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) who receive funds from Agrichemical companies.

Last weekend Varroa Mite has been found in Taree and Wheerol Flat. How much of the insect, bee, bird, and mammal populations will be poisoned in the attempt by Dept of Primary Industries to contain the mite?

[lavishbreads]

I have kept honey bees for over 35 years and Native bees for 25 years, my hives lived at the same property without a problem. I have experimented with honey comb behind mesh that restricts honey bees but allows natives in. Not 1 native bee in my observations entered and took honey from the comb! Natives will harvest propolis from old frames etc but not honey. Sorry Simon yr argument is BS!!