The Australian horticulture industry has long depended on millions of feral honey bees to provide free pollination services essential for crop production. However, as the varroa mite spreads further north in Queensland, experts warn that these wild bee populations are disappearing, prompting growers to reconsider how they secure pollination.

Chief executive of the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council, Danny Le Feuvre, stated that overseas experience shows about 95% of feral honey bee colonies vanish once varroa mite becomes established. This decline threatens the $4.6 billion annual contribution honey bees make to pollination services across approximately 65 horticultural crops in Australia.

North Queensland commercial beekeeper Keith Lang emphasized that pollination services can no longer be taken for granted, noting, "People think bees are all about honey, but we can do without honey."

As feral bee populations decline, growers will increasingly depend on managed hives supplied by commercial beekeepers. However, Mr. Le Feuvre highlighted concerns that many commercial beekeepers are considering leaving the industry just as demand for managed pollination is expected to rise. He warned, "If varroa takes out those wild populations, what do we do then? All of a sudden the reliance on commercial beekeepers increases, and I don't think anyone is really ready for it."

The European honey bee remains the most effective pollinator available, underscoring the critical role of managed hives in sustaining Australia’s horticulture sector.

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