Beekeepers in far north Queensland lose 800,000 bees in sophisticated theft operation

Key facts

• An estimated 800,000 bees, valued at tens of thousands of dollars, have been stolen from properties in far north Queensland.
• Forty-four colonies were stolen from three different beekeepers.
• The thieves removed brood boxes, leaving the hives appearing unchanged from a distance.
• The varroa mite parasite, which arrived in Australia in 2022, was recently detected in far north Queensland.
• Australia abandoned efforts to eradicate the varroa mite in 2023.
• The estimated cost to the industry of uncontrolled varroa mite spread is $1 billion over 30 years.

Beekeepers in far north Queensland are facing significant losses due to a sophisticated theft operation that saw an estimated 800,000 bees stolen from multiple properties. The thefts, which involved specialized equipment and methods to disguise the removal of brood boxes, have occurred as the region also grapples with the recent arrival of the varroa mite parasite.

Apiarist Tom Bidner reported that 44 colonies, each containing at least 20,000 bees, were taken from three different beekeepers. The thieves reportedly transferred frames into their own boxes and reassembled the hives to avoid immediate detection, leaving the honey behind. Bidner suspects the culprits are likely individuals within the beekeeping industry, given the specialized knowledge required.

The stolen bees represent not only the insects themselves but also lost income from pollination contracts, which are crucial during the peak avocado season in the region. This theft comes at a time when the industry is already under pressure from the varroa mite, a parasite that arrived in Australia in 2022 and for which eradication efforts were abandoned in 2023. The mite poses an estimated $1 billion threat to the industry over 30 years.

Professor Megan O’Mara from the University of Queensland is involved in developing new treatments for the varroa mite, including those using mRNA technology, though effective solutions are still several years away. The combination of theft and the varroa mite presents a "double whammy" for beekeepers, particularly in far north Queensland where the warm climate allows bees to brood year-round, providing a constant breeding ground for the parasite.