A Review of the National Sentinel Hive Program in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory Pat Boland Biosecurity Australia June 2005 Acknowledgments This review would not have been possible without the assistance of a large number of people. Those who enthusiastically gave time and effort to help collect the information include officers of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), officers from State departments of agriculture, port authority staff, members and staff of the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council, and beekeepers. Appreciation is due to: Jeff Beard, Agriculture WA Matt Marinovich, beekeeper, Perth Sam Brewster, Bunbury David McMillan, MAF, NZ Bob Brunner, PCQ Ross Newman, QDPI, Qld John Curran, AQIS Broome Bob Perkins, beekeeper, Sydney Neville Cutts, Richmond Tony Postle, AQIS, Broome Laurie Dewar, AHBIC Jack Shield, QDPI, Cairns Paula Dewar, AHBIC John Sicari, AQIS, Dampier John Edmonds, beekeeper, Geelong Vicki Simlesa, DPIF, NT Ted Flower, beekeeper, Newcastle Karen Skelton, QDPI, Qld Sue Foster, beekeeper, Kununurra Ian Spicer, Agriculture WA, Bunbury Russell Goodman, DPI, Vic Helen Syer, AQIS, Vic Patricia Greer, QDPI, Qld Stan Taylor, beekeeper, Wyndham Sue Haenkel, beekeeper, Sydney Ian Tayor, AQIS, Portland Tony Hill, beekeeper, Sydney Bill Trend, Agriculture WA David Holford, BTRE, Canberra Alex Veilandt, beekeeper, Broome Tom Holt, beekeeper, Perth Ray Ward, beekeeper, Dampier Mike Jones, Agriculture WA, Geraldton Stephen Ware, CEO, AHBIC Peter Kaczynski, DPI, Vic Trevor Weatherhead, AHBIC Hamish Lamb, QDPI, Qld Bruce White, NSW Agriculture, NSW Mark Leidel, AQIS, Pt Hedland Andrew Ygosse, QDPI, Townsville 1 Table of contents A Review of the National Sentinel Hive Program..............................................................................................1 Executive Summary ...........................................................................................................................................3 Background to the National Sentinel Hive Program...........................................................................................3 Background to the Review .................................................................................................................................5 Risks of entry of honeybee pests .......................................................................................................................5 Asian honeybee Apis cerana .............................................................................................................................6 Funding principles ..............................................................................................................................................7 Research needs .................................................................................................................................................8 Intensity of surveillance ......................................................................................................................................9 Acaracidal products used in the program...........................................................................................................9 Payment of beekeeper's costs .........................................................................................................................10 Other issues .....................................................................................................................................................11 Recommendations ...........................................................................................................................................12 A. General recommendations for the program ........................................................................................................ 12 B. Recommendations for particular locations.......................................................................................................... 12 List of incursions and potential incursions involving honeybee pests..............................................................15 List of originally established ports subject to surveillance under NSHP ..........................................................17 National Sentinel Hive Program - Number of samples ....................................................................................18 Estimate of relative risks for entry of exotic bees.............................................................................................19 Notes on individual ports visited.......................................................................................................................21 Sydney ......................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Newcastle..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Melbourne .................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Western Port ................................................................................................................................................................ 22 Geelong........................................................................................................................................................................ 22 Portland........................................................................................................................................................................ 23 Fremantle ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Kwinana........................................................................................................................................................................ 23 Bunbury........................................................................................................................................................................ 24 Broome......................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Wyndham ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Port Hedland ................................................................................................................................................................ 25 Dampier........................................................................................................................................................................ 25 Port Walcott.................................................................................................................................................................. 26 Geraldton...................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Brisbane ....................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Townsville..................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Cairns........................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Darwin .......................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Gove............................................................................................................................................................................. 28 References .......................................................................................................................................................29 2 Executive Summary The National Sentinel Hive Program was established in 2000 to enhance surveillance for honeybee parasites (most notably varroa) and exotic bees in the vicinity of seaports. The purpose of the program is assist the early detection of these parasites and bees. This will provide a better chance that an incursion will be eradicated or that an eradication program is smaller and less costly. A strong feature of the program is the close collaboration and cooperation between the honeybee industry, State departments of agriculture and Biosecurity Australia. While the program is currently part-funded by Biosecurity Australia, there are significant 'in kind' costs which are met by the respective State department of agriculture and by participating beekeepers. The National Sentinel Hive Program operates at 27 ports and the review covered 20 ports in New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia. The review makes a number of general recommendations for the program as well as specific ones for particular locations.