Types of bee pests and diseases we're looking for
We need to keep an eye out for any pests and diseases that can put our bees at risk.
Surveillance is conducted for any pest or disease of honey bees that is exotic to New Zealand with a focus on:
- European foulbrood (Melissococcus plutonius)
- small hive beetle (Aethina tumida)
- the parasitic fly (Braula coeca)
- tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi)
- Asian mites (Tropilaelaps clareae and T. mercedesae)
- African and Africanised honey bee (Apis mellifera scutellata)
- Cape honey bee (Apis mellifera capensis)
- other exotic Apis species (for example, the Asian honey bee, Apis cerana).
Atlas of Biosecurity Surveillance: National Apiculture Surveillance Programme
Surveillance includes apiary inspections
Surveillance involves:
- inspecting beehives and taking samples for laboratory testing from apiaries in both high-risk and low-risk locations
- inspecting all hives for exotic organisms as part of the National American Foulbrood Pest Management Plan operations
- screening notifications of suspected cases of exotic pests or diseases of honey bees.
Find out more about specific bee pests and diseases
Education and reporting
Beekeepers are educated on pests and diseases through The New Zealand Beekeeper magazine, The Apiarist Advocate magazine, and MPI’s Surveillance Journal. In addition, all beekeepers are encouraged to report suspect cases to MPI using the pest and disease hotline.
If you think you have a suspect exotic organism in your beehive
We rely on every beekeeper to remain vigilant. To report a suspect exotic pest or disease, any unusual symptoms, or unexplained high losses in your beehives:
- freephone 0800 809 966, or
- use the online reporting form
Find out more about how to report pests or diseases
Bee biosecurity resources
2024 report on apiculture surveillance – SciQuest
Small hive beetle surveillance project report 2023 [PDF, 722 KB]
Bee pests and diseases: a summary [PDF, 614 KB]
Bee biosecurity: The essentials booklet [PDF, 9.8 MB]
