Asian honey bee, Apis cerana

The Asian honey bee:

• is the natural host for varroa destructor mite, a major economic threat to Australia's honey bee industry
• is a vector for other bee diseases and pests
• may compete with managed honey bees and native bees for floral resources
• protects their nest and can sting just like a EHB. A sting from an AHB could cause an anaphylactic reaction in allergy-prone people.

The Asian honey bee:

• is approximately 10 mm long
• is smaller and less hairy than the EHB
• flies fast and erratically
• has pronounced and even yellow and black stripes on the abdomen.

The Asian honey bee:

• was first detected in Portsmith, Cairns in 2007
• is common in Asia, including Indonesia and Papua New Guinea
• has been found nesting in tree hollows, under the eaves, in walls and under the floor of houses, in letterboxes, cable reels, compost bins and various other urban locations.

• Biosecurity Queensland is working to minimise the spread of the pest bee under the Transition to Management program
• Movement restrictions controlling managed bees and beekeeping equipment are in place - see movement restrictions (PDF, 596 kB)
• It is essential that you remain vigilant and informed to delimit new incursions of bees and minimise the spread. Report all suspect bees that are detected outside the known infested area to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.

• The Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries monitors incoming cargo ships entering Australian ports for bees and other unwanted insect pests
• Biosecurity Queensland is responsible for managing the National Sentinel Hive Program in Queensland. The program has established bait hives and in port areas to attract honey bees that might have left ships undetected. These are routinely monitored, and any bees detected are killed and sampled to ensure they are not carrying varroa mites or other unwanted bee pests
• The AHB population in Far North Queensland do not carry exotic diseases or mites. It is critical that any new incursion of AHB is identified and destroyed quickly, as a new incursion of the pest may contain exotic diseases or mites
• Report all suspect bees close to international ports to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
  

• If you have seen a suspect AHB swarm or nest outside of the Known Infested Area, report them using our online reporting tool, or contact the Customer Service Centre on 13 25 23.