10 WEEKS BETWEEN SENTINEL CHECKS WHICH FOUND VARROA IN NEWCASTLE

Queensland’s closed its border to New South Wales bees – and even honey – as it looks to keep the varroa mite out.

It comes amid revelations that hives at the Port of Newcastle weren’t checked within the required six to eight week window.

The parasite has now been detected on the Central Coast in a property at Calga.

All hives within a 10-kilometre radius of Calga, will now be eradicated… and beekeepers within 50 kilometres must register their hives with the Department of Primary Industries.

There are now nine infested properties in New South Wales.