The honey bee is not native to Australia. It was introduced to Australia during the early years of colonisation. British and European settlers introduced various plants, trees, animals and birds during this time. In 1822, the honey bee was brought to Australia aboard the ship Isabella. The honey bee adapted so successfully that other bee species were introduced from Italy, Yugoslavia and North America.
Today, the honey bee contributes directly to the Australian economy through its production of honey and related products. Honey bees also contribute to the productivity of many horticultural crops, by providing essential pollination services that improve crop yield and quality. The Australian honey and bee products industry is valued at approximately $90 million per year.
It is estimated that bees contribute directly to between $100 million and $1.7 billion of agricultural production.
The industry comprises 10,000 registered beekeepers. Around 1,700 of these are considered to be commercial apiarists, each with more than 50 hives, and there are thousands of part-time and hobbyist apiarists, with total honey production around 16,000 tonnes of honey each year.
Sadly, these valuable little insects are exposed to numerous threats such as pests, parasites, bacterial and fungal diseases, viral diseases, and pesticides. Much research has been conducted to ascertain the main threats that currently affect the honey bee population. Regular monitoring, early detection and reporting greatly improves the chances of containing and eradicating any alien pests should they enter Australia.
The main pests and parasites that currently threaten the honey bee include:
- Varroa mites are tiny red-brown external parasites of honey bees. Although Varroa mites can feed and live on adult honey bees, they mainly feed and reproduce on larvae and pupae in the developing brood, causing malformation and weakening of honey bees as well as transmitting numerous viruses.
- Tropilaelaps mites are external parasitic mites that feed on the blood of drone and worker bee pupae, and they also reproduce on honey bee brood. The bee colony may swarm or abscond, further spreading the mite to new locations.
- Asian hornets have a direct impact on honey bee colonies by killing honey bees and honey bee brood to feed their own brood larvae. Asian hornets also have an indirect impact on hive health by causing honey bees to spend time and energy mounting a defence to the constant threat of attack and thereby inhibiting pollination activities.
- African honey bees have a much greater aggressive and defensive behaviour than European honey bees. There has been a rapid hybridisation of the two bees, with African honey bees being the dominant gene. They have been known to override an existing honey bee colony and saturate an area by rapid multiplication.
- Large hive beetles are much larger than honey bees. Its size and its ability to quickly consume brood, means that it can rapidly destroy a honey bee colony and the comb structure within the hive.
These natural pests are significantly affecting honey bee populations around the world. But these are not the only factors to consider. Pesticides and genetically modified crops are having a detrimental effect on honey bees and their subsequent pollination.
One of the most researched risks is Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). This unexplained phenomenon is as a result of the abrupt disappearance of worker bees from a colony. Today, the disappearance of honey bees has transformed into a global epidemic. Beekeepers have seen an annual loss of 30 – 90% in their colonies; while non-migratory beekeepers have noted an annual loss of over 50%.
Scientists are unable to determine the exact cause of death since the disappearance means that they cannot locate the bees to conduct tests. Initial hypotheses speculated that this disappearance was caused by environmental change-related stresses, malnutrition, pathogens, mites, pesticides, radiation from cellular phones or other man-made devices, and genetically modified crops. Now most scientists believe that CCD is the result of an unfortunate combination of many factors all of which work to increase the honey bee’s stress and reduce its immune system.
The impact honey bees have on the human population and the environment is far more crucial than we may think. Agricultural crops rely on honeybees worldwide to provide them with life and guarantee their reproduction. Bees facilitate pollination for most plant life, including well over 100 different vegetable and fruit crops. Without bees, there would be significantly less pollination, which would result in limited plant growth and lower food supplies. According to Dr. Albert Einstein, “If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live. No more bees, no more pollination… no more men”.