KEY POINTS:
Movement controls associated with varroa bee mite are being revoked tomorrow.
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) said today the infestation in North Canterbury was now beyond the point where it could be eradicated or contained in a localised programme.
Since its arrival in New Zealand seven years ago - reportedly on a queen bee smuggled into the country - the varroa mite species has spread rapidly, laying its eggs inside the brood cells of a beehive, where the mites develop to maturity by feeding on bee larvae.
Uncontrolled, varroa will usually "kill" a bee colony within a year - an expensive loss to beekeepers as well as a major threat to honey producers and the billion dollar fruit export industry, which relies on bees for pollinating crops such as kiwifruit.
MAFBNZ Incursion Manager Richard Norman said 17 beekeeping operations in Waimakariri and Selwyn Districts had been confirmed positive for varroa.
"High levels of mites detected in some operations suggest varroa may have been present for six months which suggests varroa is established and widespread," he said.
"Tracing has identified more than 150 beekeeping operations with hives within 5km radiuses of apiary sites belonging to infested operations. These operations are at risk from local spread of varroa. The infestation in North Canterbury is now beyond the point where it can be eradicated or contained in a localised programme."
Mr Norman said the high densities of hives in the Canterbury region and the lack of geographical barriers meant there was little scope for an effective movement control line to progressively withdraw down the South Island.
"It has been inevitable that varroa would spread from the Nelson region.
"Movement controls can only attempt to reduce the risk of human-assisted spread - they do not address local spread by bees drifting between hives, robbing, and swarming," he said.
MAFBNZ intends to use some of the remaining funds from the response to help beekeepers in the South Island adapt to the newly detected spread of varroa through advice, hive testing and education workshops.
"We will also discuss with industry and research providers whether there are immediate, high value research needs that remaining funds could assist," said Mr Norman.
Varroa remains a notifiable organism and beekeepers in uninfested areas should report suspect finds of varroa to MAFBNZ on 0800 80 99 66.
- NZPA
