VICTORIAN beekeepers have warned people to be vigilant to report bee swarms following a new discovery of the Asian honey bee in Queensland.
Central Victorian apiarist Peter McDonald said the Asian honey bee, which could carry the lethal varroa mite, could come into Victoria through busy sea ports.
The varroa mite kills indigenous and honey bees.
"It could hit anywhere around Australia," Mr McDonald said.
"It's a big problem for us."
A swarm of Asian honey bees was discovered at Lake Eacham, southwest of Cairns, last week.
The Asian honey bee was first discovered in Cairns 2 1/2 years ago.
Mr McDonald is part of a team of volunteer beekeepers who are on call to assist Victoria's Department of Primary Industries with potential Asian honey bee incursions.
Mr McDonald said it was vital for people, particularly those living near ports, to report unusual bee swarms to the DPI.
"If the bees look a bit odd, include that in the description to the DPI," Mr McDonald said.
"The DPI can check if the bees carry any exotic pests like the varroa mite."
He said the outbreak in Queensland was a problem for all beekeepers.
"If the Queensland authorities decide it's too hard to control, then it could spread across the continent," Mr McDonald said.
Biosecurity Queensland co-ordinator Charlotte Greer said the Lake Eacham bees would be genetically tested to see if they were the same as the Cairns bees.
Ms Greer said that, so far, the bees were free of varroa mite.
"If the mite was to get in, these bees would aid the spread of it," Ms Greer said. "They have learned to live with the mite, so they will spread it."
She said countries that had tried to control the mite had had limited success.
Ms Greer said there had been 57 detections of the Asian honey bee since the first incursion in 2007 and an exclusion zone had been declared near Cairns.
Bee swarms can be reported to the national Emergency Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.
