A little mite has a mighty effect.

[old man emu]

A land of droughts and flooding rains. If it's not one thing it's another impacting on agriculture. While we are well aware of the problem of fuel supply coming into sowing season, there is a biological problem that is impacting the pollination of our food crops. In June 2022, varroa mite was detected in sentinel hives at the Port of Newcastle, New South Wales. The mite is a parasite of European bees which kills them. 

 

When it was detected, thousands of bee hives were destroyed in an attempt to control its spread. That didn't work too well. The upshot is that commercial bee-keepers were not able to place their hives amongst the plants that need bees for pollination. As a result many crops, such as apples, pears and nuts failed to produce. Worse still, while 'domesticated' hives were reduced in numbers, escapee broods headed off into the native forests, taking the mite with them. Control or eradication of the mite in Australia is now impossible using current methods. 

[facthunter]

Are you driving people to severe depression? Let's look on the Bright side a bit More.. Nev

[Jerry_Atrick]

One of the disadvantages of global trade and movement. 

 

While it is bad news, forewarned is forearmed; and the more people that know about it and its potential conseuences (think $12 lettuces), the more pressure that can be put on government to put resources intol finding a way to solve the problem. 

 

It only becomes depressing when no-one oof who we entrust and pay handsomely to look after this tries to do anything about it when they should.