An introduction to the Australian honey industry and the Asian honey bee.
Apis cerana is commonly referred to in Australia
as the Asian honey bee. Throughout the world, the Asian honey bee is highly
adaptable and similar to their European counterpart (Apis mellifera), they can occupy a variety of habitats and varied
climates such as cool regions, to dry, semi-desert and tropical climates
(Ruttner, 1988; Koetz 2012). Indigenously the Asian honey bee is widespread
throughout Asia in temperate and tropical regions (Hepburn et al 2011; Ruttner
1988). However no honey bees (genius: Apis)
are indigenous to Australia, New Zealand, Pacific islands or the Americas
(Bradbear 2009).
The honey bee industry in Australia adds an estimated $4 to 6 billion to the Australian agricultural and horticultural industries annually (DAFF 2012). The star of the show is the European honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) who not only produces honey and hive products such as beeswax but also are excellent pollinators of many fruits and vegetables you eat at home. Globally, A. mellifera accounts for 35% of the world’s food production (Genersch 2010).
Sadly though the Australian honey industry is at threat of exotic pests and disease that could potentially devastate the European honey bee populations in captivity. Numerous studies have been conducted worldwide on viruses that are known to impact honey bees, including A. mellifera (Allen & Ball, 1996; Ellis and Munn, 2005). The biggest threat to the Australian honey industry is the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana L.).
Presumed to have been brought to mainland Australia via the port of Cairns (DAFF 2013a), the Asian honey bee is a known host of the external Varroa mite (Varroa destructor). The Varroa mite is a known carrier of the Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), a virus that can impact a European honey bee at any stage of its lifecycle and can even cause the death of an entire nest (Chen and Siede 2007). Initially discovered in Japan (Bailey and Ball 1991), DWV has since been found worldwide (Chen and Siede 2007) except for Australia. Although the initial invasion of the Asian honey bee did not host the Varroa mite or DWV, Queensland apiarists are concerned about future Asian honey bee incursions in Australia (DAFF 2012).
For more information on the Asian honey bee, how to identify one, and the biosecurity threat they pose on Australia, simply select from the menu above.
The honey bee industry in Australia adds an estimated $4 to 6 billion to the Australian agricultural and horticultural industries annually (DAFF 2012). The star of the show is the European honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) who not only produces honey and hive products such as beeswax but also are excellent pollinators of many fruits and vegetables you eat at home. Globally, A. mellifera accounts for 35% of the world’s food production (Genersch 2010).
Sadly though the Australian honey industry is at threat of exotic pests and disease that could potentially devastate the European honey bee populations in captivity. Numerous studies have been conducted worldwide on viruses that are known to impact honey bees, including A. mellifera (Allen & Ball, 1996; Ellis and Munn, 2005). The biggest threat to the Australian honey industry is the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana L.).
Presumed to have been brought to mainland Australia via the port of Cairns (DAFF 2013a), the Asian honey bee is a known host of the external Varroa mite (Varroa destructor). The Varroa mite is a known carrier of the Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), a virus that can impact a European honey bee at any stage of its lifecycle and can even cause the death of an entire nest (Chen and Siede 2007). Initially discovered in Japan (Bailey and Ball 1991), DWV has since been found worldwide (Chen and Siede 2007) except for Australia. Although the initial invasion of the Asian honey bee did not host the Varroa mite or DWV, Queensland apiarists are concerned about future Asian honey bee incursions in Australia (DAFF 2012).
For more information on the Asian honey bee, how to identify one, and the biosecurity threat they pose on Australia, simply select from the menu above.