Asian Honeybee Identification

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Current Distribution and Origin of Asian Honeybees
These feral bees are believed to have arrived from Indonesia or Papua New Guinea in shipping containers. Nests of Asian honeybees have now been found westwards to Mareeba, south west to Lake Eacham, and as far south as Innisfail. However, most nests have been found in the city and port areas of Cairns, and in Gordonvale and Aloomba just south of Cairns.

Dr Max Whitten of the Wheen Bee Foundation says, 'It would seem more luck, then sound management, that the Asian honeybee remains confined to the general area around Cairns - despite the opportunity to spread over the past four years. One possible explanation for this situation is that the tropical rainforest, rather than acting as a food resource and suitable habitat for the Asian honeybee, is serving as a barrier to the spread of the pest.  It enters but eventually retreats from the rainforest because of a lack of food.'

How to Recognise the Asian Honeybee
The Asian honeybee (Apis cerana) (10 mm) is smaller than the European honeybee (Apis mellifera) (15 mm) that we use for honey production in Australia. It tends to fly faster and more erratically. It is less hairy and has more prominent banding on the abdomen than the European honeybee.

The feral Asian honeybee. Apis cerana, (right) is smaller and has more distinct bands than the commercial honeybee, Apis mellifera, (left). Photo by Paul Zborowski/Queensland Government

If you see any of these feral Asian honeybees, please ring Biosecurity Queensland on: 13 25 23

More Information

The Fight to Eradicate Asian Honeybees

Impact of Asian Honeybees in Australia

Author: Anne Dollin
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