NZ honey industry up against the worst pest in the world

Beekeepers at Wairarapa's Hunter Reilly. (Image: Hunter Reilly)

Tue, 13 Feb 2024

Last year, Wairarapa manuka honey business Hunter Reilly carried out its routine autumn hive treatments to control the parasitic varroa mite.It could have saved its money. “We put the strips in, and they were utterly ineffective,” Hunter Reilly director Stu Ferguson said. “I would say 50% of the hives technically look like they’ve had no treatment.”Most beekeepers treat varroa with flumethrin, trademarked as Bayvarol, oxalic acid and/or amitraz, under the trademarks Apivar and Apitraz.Fortunately for Ferguson, anot...

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