Sample for varroa mites
Monitoring hives gives PIRSA and industry confidence that SA is free of varroa mite. It protects apiary businesses and associated pollination-dependent industries.
Sampling hives is necessary as varroa mites are difficult to see on adult honey bees – they are found under abdominal segments.
All beekeepers should undertake sampling, regardless of the method used. Monitoring will allow beekeepers to better understand their hives’ development cycle to identify and address biosecurity concerns early.
If you suspect or positively detect varroa mite through sampling, immediately notify PIRSA.
Monitoring methods
Multiple options are available, including alcohol wash, detergent wash, sugar shake, sticky mats.
We recommend beekeepers sample for varroa mites using the preferred alcohol wash method. This involves:
- about 300 adult bees, including nurse bees
- dislodged material from 2 frames, except for frames with the queen or queen cells.
Sampling instructions
Sampling instructions
Videos
- Alcohol wash video – NSW Biosecurity
- Powdered sugar shake and alcohol (or soap) wash video – Honey Bee Health Coalition
Guidelines
Frequency and conditions
Sampling is usually done several times per year, in spring and autumn, dependent on brood development and cycle.
South Australia has not mandated a monitoring interval. Due to the evolving varroa mite situation, we recommend you sample your hives regularly, at a minimal interval of 16 weeks.
The ideal weather conditions for sampling are sunny, with minimal wind and no rain. Wait until your bees are out foraging to conduct sampling and minimise the time the hive is open.
To contain the spread of any pest or disease, sampling should not be performed under robbing conditions.
Collect samples
Beekeepers must take samples of 10% of hives per apiary (rounded up and including nucleus hives).
This requirement excludes beekeepers who have been directed to sample at a different rate.
Example number of hives
Example number of hives
Hives across total number of apiaries | 10% of total hives to sample | Number of samples needed |
|---|---|---|
20 hives in 2 apiaries | 2 samples per apiary | 4 samples |
84 hives in 4 apiaries | 9 samples per apiary | 36 samples |
96 hives in 3 apiaries | 10 samples per apiary | 30 samples |
100 hives in 1 apiary | 10 samples | 10 samples |
106 hives in 12 apiaries | 11 samples per apiary | 132 samples |
Free sampling kits
Free sampling kits
Beekeepers can pick up free sampling kits at the following select PIRSA offices.
- Clare – 70 Farrell Flat Road, Clare
- Glenside – 33 Flemington Street, Glenside
- Kingscote – Shop 7, The Mall, 56 Dauncey Street, Kingscote
- Loxton – 1801 Bookpurnong Road, Loxton
- Mount Gambier – 7 Krummel Street, Mt Gambier
- Murray Bridge – Bremer Road, Murray Bridge
- Nuriootpa – 571 Research Road, Nuriootpa
- Port Lincoln – 1 Hindmarsh Street, Port Lincoln
- Struan – 74 Struan House Road, Naracoorte.
Submit samples and forms
- Fill out the relevant form:
- Email the form to pirsa.beebiosecurity@sa.gov.au to provide advance notice of the samples.
- Seal your sample securely in a container.
- Attach the sample label () to your sealed package, filled out with:
- your brand or hive identification code
- the hive ID
- the date of the sample.
- Deliver your samples, along with a copy of your form, to either:
- one of the select PIRSA offices listed above
- Australian Clinical Labs – ask them to courier the sample to Gribbles Veterinary Pathology at Glenside.
