National+Sentinel+Hive+Program+(GAZ)

National Sentinel Hive Program – the front line
 Presently, Australia is the only remaining large landmass in the world unaffected by the // Varroa destructor //mite. It is thought that entry to Australia would most likely come from a feral swarm of bees on cargo arriving at an Australian port (Department of Primary Industries 2010). Through recognition of these two facts, and of the implications an infestation could have on our agricultural industry, various national departments and state governments established the National Sentinel Hive Program in 2000. The National Sentinel Hive Program (NSHP) was inspired by Dr David Banks from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and Mr Trevor Weatherhead of the Australian Honey bee Industry Council (Animal Health Australia 2010). Currently, the program is still financed and operated by DAFF under the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer, by apiarists and by local state and territory governments.  The programs aim is to provide an early warning system, in the hope that the early detection of an exotic species will increase the chances of its successful eradication. Early detection will not only make the exotic species easier to eradicate, but it will also be less costly. This is achieved by conducting targeted surveillance for exotic honey bee pests, such as the // Varroa destructor // and the Asian honey bee (// Apis cerana //) at several major shipping and air arrival ports. Hive placement is organised so as to have a primary post-border contact for exotic species to invade immediately. Presently, there are 37 sentinel hives in operation (Clarke 2008, 21) including:  Newcastle, Townsville, Darwin, Broome, Fremantle, Geelong, Brisbane and Sydney.  In addition to the Sentinel Hives, recommendations were made following a review of the program. It was suggested that as well as these sentinel hives, the introduction of “bait hives” near shipping ports would also attract honey bees that have left ships undetected. Any rogue bees found around wharfs are killed and then subjected to rigorous sampling in order to ensure they are not infested with the // Varroa // (Department of Primary Industries 2010). 

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