Varroa Mites and Beekeeping – a Hobbyist’s Experience

For our first meeting of 2026, we’re pleased to host local Chapel Hill resident Chris Turnbull - the coordinator of the Carina Street bushcare group and a keen bee-keeper.

Varroa Mites are here. Will the hive mind? Chris Turnbull has been a hobbyist beekeeper for 15 years.

Australia was until recently the last land mass without Varroa mites in the honeybee population. Now, commercial and recreational beekeepers are adapting to survive and live with this new permanent arrival.

Chris will give a presentation for the general public covering the Varroa destructor mite, its impact on Apis mellifera (‘European honeybees’) and his personal experience since detecting mites here in Chapel Hill in late December.

Note: we are moving the evening meetings forward by half-an-hour this year - so we’ll open for refreshments at 6:30 and start the meeting at 7 pm.

Refreshments at 6:30 pm, presentation at 7:00 pm., followed by Q&A.

Free for members, non-members are very welcome - any small donation appreciated.