Prior to the year 2000, there was confusion between identifying the varroa mite (Varroa destructor) and Varroa jacobsoni, the two only confirmed as separate species through genetic testing. This can lead to some confusion with tracking the two mites.
Varroa mites were initially from Asia but have now been confirmed to be in North America (excluding Greenland and some Hawaiian Islands), South America, most of Europe and Asia, and parts of Africa.
For many years, Australia had been successful in fending off the threat of Varroa. However, they were found in 2022, in New South Wales (NSW), the first discovery of Varroa in Australia. The NSW government has Varroa mite protocols in place to try to stop the spread, but it’s a difficult battle.
The species is not currently present in Oman, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Malawi.
Please keep up to date on your country’s protocols or regulations about Varroa mite detection and/or treatment.
