Varroa mite arrived in Australia in 2022 and it will stay there. In 2023, authorities officially ended the national eradication effort, leaving beekeepers – especially in New South Wales – to manage the parasite themselves.
A study published in 2025 examined how the sector is coping, based on interviews with commercial, semi-commercial and hobbyist beekeepers. Chemical treatments remain the most common strategy, including synthetic miticides such as amitraz and flumethrin, as well as organic substances like oxalic and formic acids, thymol and hop extracts. Mechanical methods, including drone brood removal, are known but rarely used due to concerns about time, practicality and effectiveness. The research also highlights limited information, high reinfestation rates and additional pressures such as small hive beetles, pointing to the need for better training and targeted support.

Read the scientific paper’s full text here.