Select Harvests detects varroa mite at its SA orchard
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The news: Almond producer Select Harvests has confirmed that the varroa mite has been detected in bees at the Jubilee Orchard in South Australia, marking the first time the mite has been identified in the state.
The context: In an ASX announcement filed on Wednesday evening, Select Harvests said that the mite was self-detected whilst contractors were preparing the hives to be moved and immediately reported the detection to the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA).
The company said the bees were sourced from Queensland by a “large reputable supplier” and that the company is not on notice of any failure to comply with entry and management requirements.
At this stage, Select Harvests said the detection of mites has no impact on the state’s pollination or expected quantity or quality of the 2026 almond crop and that pollination across the South Australian orchards has been strong.
Select Harvests added that it is not aware of any material financial implications from the mite detection and that it has begun the sourcing strategy for bees across all of its orchards for the 2027 crop, including the likely geographic expansion of the varroa mite.
Varroa mites were first detected in Australia in 2022 in NSW and have since been found in Victoria, the ACT and QLD.
Varroa mites can kill honey bee colonies and transmit viruses to their hosts and are described by the CSIRO as the "world's worst" and "most serious" European bee parasite.
What they said: Speaking to ABC Drive, SA Minister for Primary Industries and Regions, Clare Scriven, said that the infested hives from QLD would not be moved from where they were found. "Things are already in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, it doesn't spread further," she said.
The sources: Select Harvests ASX update, ABC News
