The Journal of the Victorian Apiarists' Association
Andrew Wootton 
AHBIC Chair & CEO Update By Danny LeFeuvre & Jon Lockwood Just as we almost start to get used to the new world with varroa, along comes resistance. Another devastating game changer for the industry. As we head into conference season, I am sure beekeepers will be soaking up all the information from the expert … Read more
Danny LeFeuvre, CEO AHBIC, 2026 There has been commentary across industry about the APVMA process for varroa miticides and what role AHBIC plays. It is important to separate three things: emergency permits, full product registrations, and AHBIC‟s advocacy role. Emergency permits Emergency permits are temporary approvals used to legalise the use of an agvet chemical … Read more
By Andrew Wootton Once again, we are faced with unwelcome news – amitraz resistant mites have been found in Australia.1 Perhaps even more alarming is that AHBIC states that these are genetically distinct from the original mite incursion, confirming a second breach of our (once vaunted, now porous) biosecurity border. How long until deformed wing … Read more
By John Edmonds The weather in the start of April has been cooler than average, causing the bees to begin reducing brood and back filling around the brood to get ready for winter. When looking at the brood nest it is deceptive as the bees have fresh nectar but the hive scales around Geelong region … Read more
By Kris Fricke I‟d have thought we can all agree that you shouldn‟t engage in “risky behaviour” with multiple partners of unknown infectious disease status without any protection, right? But that has been the policy recommendation of the National Varroa Mite Management Program. “Don‟t use miticides prophylactically” they say, (ie, as a protective measure) if … Read more
By Kris Fricke (& substantial quotes from Bruce Ward) Werribee Mystery Mite On the evening of Monday April 6th Werribee area beekeeper David Ross posted on the Werribee Beekeepers‟ facebook page: Tonight I had a bee come inside that was clearly struggling, I put it out of its misery with a cloth and a large … Read more
Welcome to the April Bendigo Branch Report. This is being written as the weather cools down to single digits at night and the trees are well into Autumn shutdown, with a splash of colour. Brood size is shrinking in the hives and most of the drones are gone. The last month has seen some changes … Read more
> varroa pressure > varroa reinfestation, acute phase > next year worse > varroa chemical resistance on its way, probably to hit hardest during or after the acute phase passes > apiculture on public land policy confirmed, endorsed, enabling industry > pollination industries heading towards a production cliff and they don’t know it > VAA … Read more
By John Edmonds Beekeeping is a fascinating science. Sure, you can be just a “honey grubber” or you can apply some scientific thinking to achieve a better outcome. You soon realize that you are always learning and trying to predict what is happening in the bee hive. There are so many factors to alter the … Read more
By Kris Fricke What do you think when you hear the term PMS? What if your friend tells you, as you catch him getting out of his bee truck looking harried, “ah, mate, the girls have PMS”? “Parasitic Mite Syndrome” was coined in the United States in 1994 when both tracheal and varroa mites were … Read more