Projects
Honey Bee & Pollination Industry National Colony Loss Survey
Varroa mites are honey bee parasites that have been driving worldwide colony collapses since the mid-20th century by transmitting a host of deadly viruses. While Australia has thus far avoided Varroa, they have recently become established and will cause widespread honey bee declines in the coming years. Documenting the state of colony losses in Australia is of paramount importance to understand the impact of mites on honey bee health. The present survey will complement ongoing long-term international colony loss (COLOSS) surveys to put Australian colony losses in context, while addressing knowledge gaps posed by Australia-specific management and climactic differences. It will be conducted by an industry-funded international interdisciplinary team composed of biologists, social scientists, and data scientists, working in consultation with industry representatives and beekeepers.
Results from the Australian Colony Loss Survey will provide information on how beekeepers manage Varroa and the relative success of different approaches, while maintaining the privacy of individual participants. As a result, the colony loss survey provides a means for sharing collective knowledge among beekeepers, providing practical advice based on quantitative data. It will also be used for decision-making by governments and industry. Because no other country has had the opportunity to collect pre-Varroa data, the Australian Colony Loss Survey will have international significance and can help with the global fight against these parasites. The framework set up by the 2024/2025 colony loss surveys will be the basis for subsequent annual surveys aimed at providing long-term insights.
Results from the Australian Colony Loss Survey will provide information on how beekeepers manage Varroa and the relative success of different approaches, while maintaining the privacy of individual participants. As a result, the colony loss survey provides a means for sharing collective knowledge among beekeepers, providing practical advice based on quantitative data. It will also be used for decision-making by governments and industry. Because no other country has had the opportunity to collect pre-Varroa data, the Australian Colony Loss Survey will have international significance and can help with the global fight against these parasites. The framework set up by the 2024/2025 colony loss surveys will be the basis for subsequent annual surveys aimed at providing long-term insights.
