Does the type of hive I use affect how my bees cope with varroa?

Top Bar Hives allow you to adjust the internal volume one bar at a time, which helps bees maintain strong coverage across the comb — and strong bee coverage is one of the best natural defences against both varroa and small hive beetle. Top Bar Hives also let you manage honey without disturbing the brood, which means less stress on the colony and fewer broken propolis seals that can trigger pest pressure.

Are varroa-resistant bees already emerging in Australia?

There are encouraging signs. A commercial beekeeper in the ACT has already caught swarms from wild colonies near Newcastle that have survived three years with varroa, and he’s now breeding queens from that stock. Bianca also mentioned beekeeper Tim Moultrie, who has colonies in the Blue Mountains that have survived a full season — which aligns with Les Crowder’s prediction that Australia could see resistance emerging within three to five years.

Why do Australian bees have an advantage against varroa compared to bees in other countries?

Australia has an extraordinarily high density of wild bee colonies — recent counts found 100 to 150 colonies per square kilometre in some national parks, compared to 0.2 in Europe and about four in the United States. More colonies mean more survivors, and those survivors spread resistant genetics quickly through swarming. On top of that, Australian native flora — especially eucalyptus — provides exceptionally high-quality pollen rich in essential amino acids, which helps bees build stronger immune systems and better internal defences.

What should I plant to support my bees' immune system?

Focus on filling gaps in your local floral calendar — the times of year when forage drops off are when bees are most vulnerable to disease and pests. Medicinal plant species are particularly valuable because their resins, pollen, and nectar contain beneficial compounds. For larger plantings, the borage family, mint family, Fabaceae, and Myrtaceae are all excellent choices — but conserving and advocating for native habitat remains the single most impactful thing you can do for bees.

Why might treating for varroa actually slow down natural resistance?

When we treat colonies that can’t manage varroa on their own, we keep those genetics in the population — and we’re also breeding mites alongside those bees. Colonies that would otherwise have died are instead passing on genes that lack natural varroa defence. The alternative — as Les and Nathalie Crowder have observed globally — is that untreated colonies without resistance do die, but the survivors carry and spread the genetics needed for long-term resilience, which accelerates natural adaptation across the wider bee population. If you want to go deeper on the treatment-free approach, it’s something we cover extensively in the online course.