Varroa+in+New+Zealand+(OW)


 * Varroa in New Zealand**

New Zealand has only recently been infested with //Varroa Destructor// it being first detected on the North Island within several properties south of Auckland in April of 2000(ZHANG, Z. 2000). Strict quarantine regulations were put in place in regards to bee exports but even so within 8 year //varroa// had fully spread throughout the North Island as well as many regions in the north of the South Island (ZHANG, Z. 2000).

With the affected regions suffering a drop in healthy bee population, the cost of having crops pollinated nearly tripled and crops like kiwi fruit and various pip fruits (mostly apples and pears) suffered a drop in crop yield of up to 5% in serious cases (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry NZ. 2000). Australia has found itself in the useful position of being able observe the impact Varroa has had on other environments. New Zealand is a particularly useful example due to its similarities with Australia in climate and crop types.