Varroa seen on South Island, New Zealand

It finally arrived -- varroa is in South Island, New Zealand. At the north end of South Island, near Nelson, to be precise (where most of the New Zealand wine you drink comes from). Anyone wanting to move beehives in Nelson, Buller, Marlborough and Tasman districts now needs a permit. The extent of the infestation is being investigated.

The identification is 16 months after the Varroa Agency was set up.