September 24, 2024 | ALGA |
The Australian lychee industry heavily relies on honey bee pollination, with 80% of yields dependent on managed and wild bees. Dr. Lucy Tran-Nguyen of Plant Health Australia emphasizes the importance of a healthy honey beekeeping industry for pollination-dependent crops like lychees. To safeguard bee health, the industry supports the National Bee Pest Surveillance Program (NBPSP), which involves extensive surveillance methods at ports, aiming to detect exotic pests that could threaten bee populations. Recent detections of the Varroa destructor mite in New South Wales and Varroa jacobsoni in Queensland highlight ongoing risks. These pests can introduce diseases like deformed wing virus (DWV), affecting bee productivity and colony health. Lychee growers are encouraged to report unusual pests or symptoms through the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline to facilitate early detection and control efforts. Close collaboration between growers and beekeepers is vital for maintaining pollination services and promoting healthy bee populations, ensuring continued crop yields and overall agricultural productivity.
