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. 

[facthunter]

Are you suggesting that Pollies are remunerated handsomely??  Nev. 

[Jerry_Atrick]

The senior ones, when including fringe benefits and then the lobbying, er, consulting gigs afterwards don't seem to do too badly

[facthunter]

Picking the Worst examples and tarring them all with the same brush is not fair, Nor reasonable. Of Course you've Had Boris and a few other Tories to colour your Judgement but we have got rid of the crook ones her by voting them Near to Oblivion. that's How it's supposed to work. Clean, decisive and no lives were Lost. A lot of dummy spitting though But No fatal cases as far as I Know.  Nev

[old man emu]

How come, if someone posts a topic tht is not related to politics, the follow-up always seems to fly into politics?

 

Prhaps I should have included in the original post an allegation that the mites were introduced to Australia by the CIA on the orders of Trump.

[facthunter]

Don't Blame ME . It was HIM. Anyhow you Need fetcher mites when you Fly Free flight Models. is that Better?  I'm Nev from Victoria and I'm Here to Help  and you are in the OFF topic section.  Mite is Rite. Nev

[Jerry_Atrick]

Don't blame me.. You assumed I meant pollies.. 

 

 

I would say this guy (if he is still there, and no doubt, his successor will do just as well, if not slightly better) gets paid pretty handsomely: https://www.themandarin.com.au/281154-david-fredericks-climate-change-energy-the-environment-and-water/

 

Given it's his boss that cops the flack. 

Edited 12 hours ago by Jerry_Atrick

[nomadpete]

I think the verroa mite is now a honorary Australian critter.

 

I hope we have some bright researchers working to improve pollination.

 

If the plants don't get any sex, we all go hungry.