A parasite known as the 'varroa mite' is threatening Australia's bee population, sending New South Wales into a 'bee lockdown'.
They were discovered at the Port of Newcastle on Friday.
This is the first time they've been discovered in commercial colonies in Australia, but they have been detected in most other countries before, including New Zealand.
The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research and beekeper Michelle Taylor joins Charlotte to talk about how devastating the varroa mite is for be populations.
Damaged Wing Virus can add to a bee colony's troubles, particularly during a bad varroa mite infestation. Photo: 123RF
