Bee Blog
Preparing for the front line: 2 Australian beekeepers on getting ready for varroa (and finding it)
Two Australian beekeepers from the varroa front line: Kahleea from Julia Creek in North West Queensland (preparing for arrival) and Steve from the Adelaide Hills SA (first detection with PIRSA support). The fourth and final grouped article in the Varroa Stories series.
Small-business and community beekeepers on varroa: 6 Australian operators share what they learned
Six Australian small-business, sideliner and community beekeepers share their varroa detection stories, treatment lessons and warnings, from Rick (commercial QLD) to Bec (sideliner VIC, first mite detected 27 June 2026).
Backyard beekeepers on varroa: 6 Australian hobbyists share what they learned
Six Australian backyard beekeepers, from the NSW Far North Coast to inner Melbourne, share what actually happens when varroa arrives in a hobby apiary. Loss stories, treatment lessons, and the practical advice they wish they had.
Varroa in Australia: what 14 beekeepers have learned (July 2026)
Overview hub for the Varroa Stories series. What 14 Australian beekeepers, from a commercial QLD operator on-site for the first detection to a NWQ hobbyist not yet affected, have learned about varroa. Real quotes, the AU timeline, and the five things every beekeeper should do today.
How to Test for Varroa Mites: Alcohol Wash vs Sugar Shake vs CO2
beekeeping australia hive health mite monitoring varroa varroa testing
The five ways to check a hive for varroa in Australia: alcohol wash, sugar shake, CO2, sticky board and drone brood, compared and explained step by step.