Pests, Diseases & Biosecurity
Current threats, state rules and official advice.
Current alerts
A plain-language summary of the current official honey bee biosecurity alerts in Australia, with dates and links to the official pages.
Varroa mite
How to test your hives for varroa mite, which treatments are approved in Australia, how to use them, and what to report in your state.
Small hive beetle
How to check for small hive beetle, what to use against it in Australia, how to treat affected gear, and what to report in your state.
American and European foulbrood
How to check brood for American and European foulbrood, how to take a sample, what you must report in your state, and why antibiotics are not an option for AFB.
Wax moth
How to spot wax moth damage, how to protect stored comb without chemicals, and why strong colonies are the best defence.
Chalkbrood, sacbrood and nosema
How to tell chalkbrood, sacbrood and nosema apart from foulbrood, what to do now for each, and whether you must report them in your state.
What's wrong with my hive?
A symptom-led guide to the signs of brood disease, pests and poisoning in a honey bee hive, with links to the right page for each.
State-by-state rules
Who regulates bees in each Australian state and territory, which law applies, what varroa rules apply, and how to check the rules for moving hives.
Exotic bee pests and threats
The exotic bee pests Australia is watching for, how to recognise them, and what to do the moment you suspect one.
Ants, mice and other nuisance pests
Common animals that bother hives, simple non-chemical ways to reduce the risk, and when a pest is something more serious.
Update log
A dated list of changes to the Pests, Diseases & Biosecurity pages, with what changed and why.