Backyard blitz on Asian honey bees

THE heat is on for Biosecurity Queensland to find and destroy as many Asian honey bee nests and swarms before the wet season sets in.

Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said rain would make surveillance for the Asian honey bees (Apis cerana) more difficult.

“They will take this opportunity to breed up over the summer and create an even bigger headache than they have this year,” he said.

“We have detected Asian honey bee nests in Parramatta Park and Bungalow and have destroyed 17 nests and swarms since the incursion was initially detected in May last year.”

“We need to stop the Asian honey bee in its tracks.”

Mr Mulherin said the public can help find swarms and nests of the Asian honey bee.

“A swarm at a property on Spence Street was destroyed on Saturday, November 1, thanks to public reporting and a further nest in Joan Street was found and destroyed on Wednesday, November 5.”

“If everybody took some time each day to check their trees, shrubs, outbuildings and under roofs for any suspicious bee activity, then we may be able to find established nests more quickly and prevent them from swarming.”

“A joint backyard blitz involving our surveillance teams and all Cairns householders will be an effective way to track down nests and swarms.”

“While the Apis cerana we are dealing with at the moment are free of the destructive pest varroa mite, it only takes a new incursion of a mite-carrying species to quickly spread it through our bee colonies. New incursions would be hard to detect if there are Apis cerana living in the area already.”

“Mites are destroying commercial and hobbyist hives in America and New Zealand and we dread their appearance in Australia.”

The Minister said bird enthusiasts and residents are also joining Biosecurity Queensland’s hunt for Asian honey bee nests in the suburbs of Cairns.

“Biosecurity Queensland welcomes the extra eyes to help locate roosts of the rainbow bee-eater bird which will in turn help track down Asian honey bee nests and swarms in the city area.”

“We are able to collect the pellets of indigestible bee remains that they cough up overnight. The remains include bee wings and our entomologists will be able to determine if Asian honey bees (Apis cerana) are present.

“These remains are sent away for further testing.”

DPI&F senior operations manager Scott Templeton, a keen birdwatcher, is asking his birdwatcher contacts to help in the Asian honey bee response.

Birds Australia North Queensland members have been taking to the streets with binoculars looking for bee-eater roosts.

“Now that we have detected Asian honey bee nests in Parramatta Park and Bungalow, I would like to find bee-eater roosts in the city area to help us get a line on other nests nearby,” Mr Templeton said.

“This means looking for roosts in parks and backyards, so we have asked residents to see if the bee-eaters are roosting in trees in their yards. The birds flock to their roosts at dusk, usually 5.30pm or 6pm.”

“Locating rainbow bee-eater roosts is important because it helps us to track their flight direction which is usually to their food source, which may have included a diet of Asian honey bees.”

DPI&F local controller Pat Kalinowski said recent publicity about the bees in the city had created huge interest in the community.

“We received a jump in public reporting,” he said.

“Many people have either come in with specimens or have sent us some excellent photographs of what is in their backyards.

“None of the specimens we have seen so far have been A. cerana, but it is important for us to see what is out there.”

“We will be pleased to supply residents with a photograph comparing the Asian honey bee to the European honey bee (Apis mellifera).”

Operations manager for the response Ian Rodger said two infestations in Bungalow in the past week indicated it was likely more nests were in the city area.

“Our teams are scouring as many backyards as possible with the assistance of property owners,” Mr Rodger said.

“But we can’t be in everybody’s backyard every day. Residents are at home seven days a week and we are asking them to ‘bee alert’ and keep a close eye on what’s happening in their yards.”

DPI&F surveillance manager Wim de Jong said Biosecurity Queensland teams have found more foraging Asian honey bees in the Aloomba area and are hunting for nests.

“As a commercial beekeeper myself, I am determined to destroy any Asian honey bee in Queensland.”

“If you see any bee activity, please contact Biosecurity Queensland as soon as possible on 13 25 23,” Mr de Jong said.

“We will follow up every phone call,” he said.

Minister’s Media: 32396530

DPI&F Media contact: David Anthony (07) 4057 3676

PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE. PHOTO CAPTIONS:

DPI&F senior operations officer Scott Templeton (right) joined John Seale of Birding Cairns and birdwatcher Fred Rieben in tracking down rainbow bee-eaters in suburban Cairns this week.

The beautiful rainbow bee-eater lunches on a bee. Photo by Scott Templeton.