Nearly One Million Bees Stolen in Sophisticated Heists Across Far North Queensland
In far north Queensland, Australia, over 800,000 bees have been unlawfully taken from various locations. This intricate heist involved the extraction of complete brood boxes from more than 40 hives, with each box housing between 15,000 and 20,000 bees. Experts suggest that the theft required specialized tools and the skills of a seasoned beekeeper. The stolen bees, valued at tens of thousands of dollars, threaten honey production and pollination agreements, particularly for avocado farms. This incident occurs alongside the varroa mite outbreak, first identified in Australia in June 2022, which halted eradication efforts after expenditures exceeding $100 million. In May, around 80 hives valued at $150,000 were also taken in New South Wales. Investigations are underway, and beekeepers are evaluating their colonies.
Key facts
- At least 800,000 bees were stolen from several properties in far north Queensland, Australia.
- The thefts involved entire brood boxes from more than 40 hives, each containing 15,000 to 20,000 bees.
- The stolen bees are estimated to be worth tens of thousands of dollars, including lost pollination contract revenue.
- The varroa mite, a bee-killing parasite, was first detected in Australia in June 2022 and has since become widespread.
- The Australian government spent over $100 million on eradication efforts before abandoning them.
- In May, roughly 80 hives worth an estimated $150,000 were stolen in New South Wales.
- More than 30 percent of regional food production relies directly on pollinators.
- Experts believe the thefts were executed by an experienced beekeeper using specialized equipment.
Entities
Artists
- Jack Laughton
- Tom Bidner
- Mitch McLennan
- Casey C. Forster
- Théotime Colin
- Sophie Johnson
- Andrew Messenger
- Ima Caldwell
- Christian Thorsberg
Institutions
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
- The Guardian
- The Conversation
- Honey Shed
- Wikimedia Commons
Locations
- Queensland
- Australia
- New South Wales
- Australian Capital Territory
- Tabulam
- Asia