Preparations downunder

Australia is on high alert for the varroa mite. It's the only major area where honeybees are not yet affected by the mite and they are looking to improve their national sentinel hives program, a network of beehives near ports to ensure early detection of the mite and other pests:

... no more than two hives stood sentinel at each site. “At this stage we're the cleanest country in the world for bee diseases, so if there's any incursion, it's vital we stop it at the door,” he said. “There really should be a bait hive every 500 metres at these hot spots.”