Quarantine area established in Burrup peninsula after multiple pest bee detections

A quarantine area has been established for the Burrup Peninsula after multiple confirmed detections of the exotic red dwarf honey bee. The Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development and the Federal Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Food confirmed there had been 10 confirmed detections in the area. To stop the pest from spreading, beekeepers who have hives or who have used equipment to collect swarms in the area are not permitted to move them out of the quarantine area. Chief plant biosecurity officer Sonya Broughton has called out to beekeepers and the community for support. “DPIRD and DAFF have been collaborating for several weeks to eradicate red dwarf honey bee and its mites, which pose a threat to the environment, the honey industry and the agricultural sector,” she said. “Bees play an important pollination role so it is important for commercial and recreational beekeepers to adhere to the Quarantine Area requirements. “The local community and visitors to the area play an important role in the first line of biosecurity defence by reporting sightings of any unusual bees. “It is crucial to report observations of unusual bees as quickly as possible to aid the response effort.” Affected beekeepers are being asked to contact DPIRD and people in the area are required to report observations of unusual bees to the Pest and Disease Information Service. Red dwarf honey bees are native to South Asia and parts of South-East Asia. The pest is smaller than European honey bees and have a red-brown abdomen with black and white bands. Red dwarf honey bees live in small colonies which can be built in native vegetation or on structures. Reports of unusual bees or colonies on the Burrup Peninsula should be made immediately to DPIRD’s Pest and Disease Information Service on 9368 3080, email padis@dpird.wa.gov.au or via the MyPestGuide Reporter app.