Guide to the Treatment of Varroa mites by the Department of Primary Industries NSW, Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 / by Mark Jesser

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PIC/21482/1-51

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Created: July 2025

Collection Summary

Creator
Jesser, Mark
Title
Treatment of Varroa mites by the Department of Primary Industries NSW, Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025
Date Range
15 April, 2025
Collection Number
PIC/21482/1-51
Extent
51 items
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Special Collections (Pictures)

Introduction

Scope and Contents

Collection of images documenting the inspection and treatment of Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) in regional New South Wales. Varroa mites are an invasive parasite which affects European honeybee (Apis mellifera). Some of the images show NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and local apiarists working in Griffith, New South Wales to protect honey bee colonies. The images capture hive inspections, Varroa mite detection, and educational outreach provided by Department of Primary Industries staff during training days across the state. These services support both commercial and hobbyist beekeepers. Since the arrival of Varroa mites in Australia in 2022, their threat to pollination and agriculture has made prevention and control a central focus of the beekeeping industry.

Conditions Governing Use

Conditions for copying and publishing of this collection may apply, please refer to the collections catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn10128693).

Preferred Citation

Items from this collection should be cited as [Title or description of item], Treatment of Varroa mites by the Department of Primary Industries NSW, Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 / Mark Jesser, National Library of Australia, PIC/21482/[item number(s)].

Source of description

Titles of photographs devised by cataloguer based on information provided by photographer.

Item Descriptions

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips conducts an alcohol wash to check for Varroa mites at a small hobby farm near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/1)

1 item,

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips checks an alcohol wash for Varroa mites at a small hobby farm near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/2)

1 item,

Bees in a container ready for an alcohol wash to check for Varroa mites at a hobby farm near Griffith,, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/3)

1 item,

Bees fall into a container, ready for an alcohol wash to check for Varroa mites at a small hobby farm near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/4)

1 item,

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips places Varroa mite treatment strips into a beehive following a positive alcohol wash at a small hobby farm near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/5)

1 item,

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips holds a brood frame from a European honey bee colony at a small hobby farm near Griffith, New South Wales., 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/6)

1 item,

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips inserts Varroa mite treatment strips into a beehive following a positive alcohol wash at a small hobby farm near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/7)

1 item,

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips smokes a beehive while holding a hive tool at a small hobby farm near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/8)

1 item,

Commercial beekeeper Brett McPherson with a bee smoker at his apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/9)

1 item,

Brett is holding a bee smoker.

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips examines an alcohol wash for Varroa mites at a small hobby farm near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/10)

1 item,

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips conducts an alcohol wash to check for Varroa mites at a small hobby farm near Griffith, New South Wales., 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/11)

1 item,

Bees are shaken onto a white board before being placed into an alcohol wash test to check for Varroa mites, Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/12)

1 item,

Bees fall into a container in preparation for an alcohol wash to check for Varroa mites at a small hobby farm checking for mites, Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/13)

1 item,

Bees are shaken from brood frame onto a white board before being placed into a Varroa mite test at a small hobby farm checking for mites, Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/14)

1 item,

Fresh nectar is shown falling from frame.

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips inspecting a brood frame after placing Varroa mite treatment strips into a beehive at a small hobby farm near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/15)

1 item,

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips inspecting a brood frame after placing Varroa mite treatment strips into a beehive at a small hobby farm near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/16)

1 item,

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips places Varroa mite treatment strips into a European honeybee hive near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/17)

1 item,

Bayvarol Varroa mite treatment strips are placed into the brood box of a European honeybee (Apis mellifera) hive in Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/18)

1 item,

Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) treatment Bayvarol (active ingredient flumethrin) is placed into European honey bee (Apis mellifera) hive brood box

A beekeeper uses a smoker to calm bees during an inspection at a large commercial apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/19)

1 item,

A beekeeper uses a hive tool to separate hive boxes at a large commercial apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/20)

1 item,

European honeybee hive entrance with bees entering and exiting the hive, Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/21)

1 item,

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips inspects a brood frame at a commercial apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/22)

1 item,

Bee smokers can be seen near the brood frame.

Bees are fed sugar water at a feeding station at a commercial apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/23)

1 item,

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips and commercial beekeeper Brett McPherson check a weak colony at his apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/24)

1 item,

A Bayvarol strip, used to treat Varroa mites, is placed in a brood frame of a European honeybee hive in Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/25)

1 item,

Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) treatment Bayvarol (active ingredient flumethrin) is placed into European honey bee (Apis mellifera) hive brood box

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips and commercial beekeeper Brett McPherson place Bayvarol Varroa mite treatment strips into the brood box of a European honeybee hive near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/26)

1 item,

Bayvarol strips, a treatment for Varroa mites, are placed in the brood box of a European honeybee hive near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/27)

1 item,

Commercial beekeeper Brett McPherson and NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips inspect European honeybee hives for Varroa mites near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/28)

1 item,

Commerical beekeeper Brett McPherson tastes honey during an inspection of his apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/29)

1 item,

Commerical beekeeper Brett McPherson holding a hive tool at his apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/30)

1 item,

Macro photos of Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) captured in a studio environment, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/31)

1 item,

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips inspects a honey frame from a European honey bee hive at his apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/32)

1 item,

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips and commercial beekeeper Brett McPherson inspect honey stores at his apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/33)

1 item,

A Varroa 'EasyCheck' alcohol wash is performed on bees for detection of Varroa mites at an apiary in Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/34)

1 item,

Bees in a varroa mite wash container ready for an alcohol wash to detect Varroa mites at an apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/35)

1 item,

A brood frame from a European honey bee hive, showing the queen bee near the centre, Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/36)

1 item,

Varroa mites detected in a hive following an alcohol wash at an apiary, Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/37)

1 item,

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips inspects the brood box of a European honey bee hive in preparation for an alcohol wash at an apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/38)

1 item,

Bee smokers are visible near the brood frame.

Hobbist beekeeper Les Ellis inspects his bee hive in Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/39)

1 item,

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips prepares a bee smoker at a commercial apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/40)

1 item,

Hobbist beekeeper Les Ellis on his property in Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/41)

1 item,

A brood frame from a European honey bee hive being inspected for Varroa mites by uncapping worker brood cells using a drone uncapping fork, Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/42)

1 item,

A process to detect presence of Varroa mites (Varroa destructor). Although the tool is designed for drone (male) brood, worker (female) brood was inspected due to the absence of drones in April. Some honey stores can be seen in around the top of the brood frame.--Information from photographer.

A drone uncapping fork is used to inspect worker brood cells for Varroa mites from a European honey bee hive near Griffith, New South Wales., 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/43)

1 item,

A process to detect presence of Varroa mites (Varroa destructor). Although the tool is designed for drone (male) brood, worker (female) brood was inspected due to the absence of drones in April.--Information from photographer.

A drone uncapping fork is used to inspect worker brood cells for Varroa mites from a European honey bee hive near Griffith, New South Wales., 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/44)

1 item,

A process to detect presence of Varroa mites (Varroa destructor). Although the tool is designed for drone (male) brood, worker (female) brood was inspected due to the absence of drones in April.--Information from photographer.

A brood frame from a European honey bee hive being inspected for Varroa mites by uncapping worker brood cells using a drone uncapping fork, Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/45)

1 item,

A process to detect presence of Varroa mites (Varroa destructor). Although the tool is designed for drone (male) brood, worker (female) brood was inspected due to the absence of drones in April.--Information from photographer.

A brood frame from a European honey bee hive showing capped cells and larvae at an apiary, Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/46)

1 item,

This is an ideal frame to take bees from for an alcohol wash. Some bee pollen stores can be seen in photo.--Information from photographer.

European honey bees on a brood frame containing capped and uncapped cells at an apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/47)

1 item,

Nurse bees are seen tending to the brood.

NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips checks an alcohol wash for Varroa mites at an apiary in Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/48)

1 item,

Drone image showing a large commercial apiary near farms and bushland outside Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/49)

1 item,

Drone image showing a large commercial apiary near farms and bushland outside Griffith, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/50)

1 item,

Macro images of Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) captured in a studio setting, New South Wales, 15 April 2025 (Item PIC/21482/51)

1 item,

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