Lychees in Australia are heavily reliant on pollination services provided by a variety of insects, with the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) playing a crucial role. A 2024 report highlights that 80% of the lychee crop yield is dependent on the pollination services of both managed and wild honey bees. Dr Lucy Tran-Nguyen of Plant Health Australia emphasized the importance of a robust honey beekeeping industry for pollination-reliant crops like lychees.
The National Bee Pest Surveillance Program (NBPSP), funded by Hort Innovation alongside contributions from various sectors, is instrumental in enhancing Australia's biosecurity system, benefiting the lychee industry. This program, coordinated by Plant Health Australia and implemented by state and territory governments, aims to provide an early warning system to protect Australia's honey bee health status through surveillance methods at critical entry points across the country.
In 2023, the NBPSP conducted over 4,000 surveillance activities targeting exotic bee pests. These activities, as explained by Sarah Hilton of PHA, are tailored to each port's specific needs, utilizing experiences to improve surveillance efficiency. Techniques include monitoring sentinel hives, catchboxes, and using pheromone balloons, among others.
The surveillance efforts have led to the detection of Varroa destructor and Varroa jacobsoni mite in sentinel hives, highlighting the program's success in identifying biosecurity threats. These efforts are vital in protecting Australia from diseases like deformed wing virus (DWV), which affects bee productivity and colony health.
Lychee growers are encouraged to report any unusual pest or disease sightings to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline, facilitating early control and eradication measures. Collaboration between beekeepers and growers is crucial for maintaining healthy bee populations and ensuring effective pollination services.
Source: ALGA