Feral Asian Honey Bees

Asian Honeybee Crisis

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Feral Asian Honeybees Invade Cairns

Government Gives Up on Eradication Efforts

Volunteers Take Up the Fight

How You Can Help

Where to Send Your Email or Letter

Suggested Text for Your Email or Letter

Feral Asian Honeybees Invade Cairns, Threaten Australia
Feral Asian honeybees (Apis cerana) were discovered in Cairns, Queensland, in 2007. These bees pose a serious threat to native bees, birds and mammals, as well as to our commercial honey industry.

Modelling indicates that they could spread as far as Victoria. However, so far the Asian honeybees are still within a defined area near Cairns.

Government Gives Up on Eradication Efforts
Despite opposition from apiarist and environmental groups, the Federal Department of Agriculture has just announced that they consider this pest bee too difficult to eradicate. So they have downgraded their response to management work -- accepting that this invasive bee is here to stay. (Download your copy of the Federal Government report here: Plan for Transition to Management of the Asian Honey Bee.)

Volunteers Take Up the Fight
Beekeepers are making one final effort this summer to convince the Government to change its mind.

'Volunteer beekeepers are travelling to Cairns and assisting the ground staff of Queensland DPI to detect and destroy colonies of Asian honeybees. So far this season (July - November 2011) over 60 beekeepers, at their own expense, have spent 1-2 weeks in Cairns assisting in these efforts,' says Dr Max Whitten of the Wheen Bee Foundation.

In addition, beekeepers and scientists are lobbying the Government to restore funding to the eradication effort.

'There is a good chance that the decision not to continue eradication attempts could be reversed before it is all too late,' says Dr Whitten.

'All indications are that the Asian honeybees remain confined to the general Cairns district and have not spread further south or across northern Australia.'

'If it becomes apparent that the number of Asian honeybee colonies is in fact decreasing, then the question of mounting another eradication campaign could be revisited. However, the Government stresses that the evidence will need to overwhelming for serious consideration of a reversion to an eradication campaign.'

Australian Greens Senator, Christine Milne, said, 'While there is still hope, we should be pulling out all stops to protect our biodiversity, our native bees and our much-loved honey industry.'

How You Can Help

1. Call on the Government to reverse their decision and work to eradicate these Asian honeybees before it is too late!

Send a letter or email to the Government. Addresses and specific suggestions to help you write your email or letter are below.

Alternatively, if you have a special interest in the honey industry, visit the 'Secure Food Save Bees' website to see a sample letter written by commercial beekeepers to fight for the eradication of these feral Asian honeybees.

2. If you have beekeeping experience, consider joining the volunteers helping the Asian honeybee campaign in Cairns. For more details visit:
www.securefoodsavebees.com

Send an Email (or Letter) to Voice Your Opinion on This Important Issue Now
(It Just Takes Five Minutes)

Please email your comments to:
senator.ludwig@aph.gov.au

or write a letter to:

Hon. Joe Ludwig
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Some Suggested Text for You to Use in Your Email or Letter

Please feel free to use any or all of the following text in your email or letter. If you wish, add any additional comments or descriptions of your own experiences on the subject.

Dear Minister Ludwig

I urge you to reconsider the government's position on eradicating Asian honeybees, as this pest, if not checked, will severely impact Australia's environment, urban backyards and honey industry.

-- Asian honeybees are a highly invasive species that will compete with native bees, birds and mammals for nectar, pollen and nesting sites. They are likely to cause extinction of species and affect the pollination of our native plants, threatening biodiversity.

-- Asian honeybees nest in high densities in human habitation areas and will create a substantial public nuisance.

-- Asian honeybees will have a severe effect on Australia's honey industry, robbing hives and acting as potential hosts of the devastating varroa mite.

At present these feral Asian honeybees have not spread beyond a defined area near Cairns. It is crucial to contain and eradicate these bees now, before it is too late.

I call upon you, as the Minister for Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, to immediately allocate $10 million over two years to eradicate the Asian honeybee in Australia.

Yours faithfully...

Thank You!

We thank you in advance for your help with this issue. Just five minutes of your time sending your email or letter to the Minister will help eradicate an invasive feral bee which could affect our bushland for ever.

More Information

Impact of Asian Honeybees in Australia

How to Recognise an Asian Honeybee

'Secure Food Save Bees' website

Current Status of Incursion - by Dr Max Whitten

National Asian Honey Bee Transition to Management Program

NSW Government Asian Honeybee Factsheet

Queensland DPI Asian Honeybee Factsheet