Fight Against Varroa Mite

Luke Treadwell

Snowy Monaro resident and owner of Eagle Valley conservation in Michelago

Gregg McFaul is pioneering new technology in the fight against Varroa Mite (Varroa destructor).

The Bee Healthy project requires additional funding and industry partners to further the important work being done. The project involves using microelectronics and a macro lens camera to take photos of bees entering a hive.

Around 10,000 photos are required to train a Machine Learning (ML) model which can then identify Varroa mite in-between segments on the bee’s body and alert the apiary owner.

The Bee Healthy Project is quite a unique approach when compared to the current method of containment.

“The Government is focused on the current outbreak in the Hunter

Valley and doing a great job of containing it but who is looking at the future threat?

“The current outbreak will cost industry millions of dollars but if it manages to spread we could be looking at a 70-Billiondollar cost to agriculture that relies on pollination” Gregg said.

Gregg said this is not a fix-all cure-all plan but it can absolutely be a part of the solution in what needs to be a collaborative effort.

According to Gregg we are in the age of accessible affordable technology and what would have cost enormous amounts of money in the past is now far more achievable on readily available consumer-based level.

“Whilst I would like to partner up with industry and universities who will be able to provide critical funding I’ve been fortunate that a Mac Mini is more than capable” Gregg said. The project requires roughly a further 50 thousand dollars to prove the concept and move from a prototype to a product.

Gregg is planning a trip to New Zealand in the near future so he can safely collect data on hives with a presence of varroa. Photos of bees with Varroa present are required to train the ML model.

“I can’t do that in Australia due to the risk of spreading and transporting the mite outside of the containment zone” Gregg said.

Gregg would like to thank Dr Andrew Tridgell of the Australian National University for the help he has provided as well as the Canberra Regional Bee Keepers Association for being a wealth of knowledge and providing access to their apiary. Prospective industry partners or those who wish to help with the project can contact Gregg through his website www. thebeehealthyproject.org