Peri-urban Environmental Biosecurity Network

12/08/2025

These native ants are also exterminators! 🐜🐸 Learn more here:

Meat ants don't sound like the most endearing Australian animals. These purple-red insects are super territorial, swarming and biting anything that threatens their nest. But it turns out they're not just aggressive, flesh-tearing fighters. They're also farmers, architects, and — best of all — ca...

29/01/2024

They're not pretty, they're poisonous, they're a pest and they're in more of our neighbourhoods than ever. Here's what can you do to make your yard less attractive to cane toads. 🐸🐸🐸 Hunter Small Farms Hunter Region Botanic Gardens

Here's what you can do to prevent cane toads from making themselves at home on your property and how to humanely euthanase any you do find in your garden.

18/12/2023

NSW Primary School Teachers get ahead in your planning for next year's activities with the resources developed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries Schools Program on the (RIFA). With the new incursion in northern NSW, this is a timely exercise for students to get involved in some citizen science. 🐜🐜🐜

The new incursion of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) into northern NSW is causing a lot of concern. The current situation is reported on the NSW DPI website (https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/insect-pests/fire-ants).

15/12/2023

Anyone bringing organic mulch, compost, growing media, manure, soil, hay, straw, chaff, silage, potted plants, turf, agricultural equipment, earth moving equipment, sand, gravel, chitters, coal fines, coal stone, overburden and decomposed granite into NSW from Queensland must comply with the NSW Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order (No 3) 2023. Find out more

Anyone bringing organic mulch, compost, growing media, manure, soil, hay, straw, chaff, silage, potted plants, turf, agricultural equipment, earth moving equipment, sand, gravel, chitters, coal fines, coal stone, overburden and decomposed granite into NSW from Queensland must comply with the NSW Bio...

07/12/2023

VARROA MANAGEMENT ONLINE COURSE
Since the detection of Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) in Newcastle 18 months ago, Varroa is now considered endemic in NSW, and the state is now in transition from an Emergency Response to ongoing Varroa Management.
This new free short online course will assist you to build confidence in:
· Varroa surveillance
· Monitoring for arrival
· Monitoring mite loads for management/treatment
· Integrated Pest Management

Enrol for free! at https://courses.tocal.nsw.edu.au/courses/varroa-management

HIVE MOVEMENT DECLARATIONS
Two zones of operation now exist in NSW: the Varroa Mite Suppression Zone (Green) and the Varroa Mite Management Zone (Orange). There are different rules that apply within the different zones around what you can and cannot do. If you are moving bees, the requirement to conduct surveillance, report your results and obtain movement declarations remains in both zones. This course has been developed in line with the eligibility requirements of a Hive Movement Declaration and to provide a brief overview of surveillance methods, calculation of mite loads and possible tratment options. When you successfully complete the course, you will receive a certificate.
For more information about the zones please visit:
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/emergencies/biosecurity/current-situation/varroa-mite-emergency-response
And for other information about Varroa Management please see:
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/emergencies/biosecurity/current-situation/varroa-mite-emergency-response/managing-your-hives-with-varroa

NSW Department of Primary Industries
Australian Honey Bee Industry Council

07/12/2023

Schools please join our live virtual event this Friday 8.12.23 to help us stop the Red imported fire ant spreading in NSW over the Christmas holidays. Learn how to get involved as a citizen scientist to identify, report and protect NSW from the Red imported fire ant.

High School 10-10:30AM https://dartlearning.org.au/excursion/fighting-the-fire-ant-as-a-citizen-scientist-years-9-12/
Primary School 12-12:30PM https://dartlearning.org.au/excursion/fighting-the-fire-ant-as-a-citizen-scientist-years-4-8/

01/12/2023

Know your enemy!

As we continue to transition to ongoing management of Varroa mite, it’s important to learn how you can protect your hives.

The NSW DPI Primefact is packed with information about the parasite’s biology and life cycle, movement spread and how to spot and test for the pest.

Find the fact sheet at https://brnw.ch/VarroaMitePrimefact.

Together this information can help you make informed decisions about managing your hives.

Learn more about the Varroa Mite Emergency Response at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/varroa.

30/11/2023

P O D C A S T: How Citizen Science is helping to inform natural resource management. On this episode of Big Shift For Small Farms podcast, hear how citizen science is helping to inform natural resource management, increase environmental protection and inform policy and decision making.

‎Show Big Shift For Small Farms, Ep Citizen Science helping to inform natural resource management - 19 Sept 2023

31/10/2023

Biosecurity risks are not always exotic pests, but sometimes the diseases they carry. Asian Citrus Psyllid is an exotic pest to Australia, but most of the damage from this pest actually comes from a bacterium it carries, which has devastated overseas citrus industries 🍊🍋🍊🍋🍊🍋🍊 Listen to the latest episode in the Urban Plant Health Network 'The Good, The Bad, and the Bug-ly' series.

Citrus Australia's Biosecurity Manager, Dr Jessica Lye, talks CitrusWatch and keeping Australia free of the Asian citrus psyllid.

30/10/2023

A new mobile application, MyPestGuide® Trees, is now available to industry, government, and citizen scientists, empowering them to mitigate the impact of invasive pests and diseases on our forests.

A new mobile application, MyPestGuide® Trees, is now available to industry, government, and citizen scientists, empowering them to mitigate the impact of invasive pests and diseases on our forests.

20/09/2023

We are excited to announce that the 44th Tocal Beekeepers’ Field Day will be streamed online again this year on Saturday 21st October 2023 from 9am to 12pm.

The program includes presentations on:
- Honey bee nutrition
- Native bees
- Tiny forests—habitat creation
- Honey bee biosecurity
- Straight line honey
- Products of the hive—value adding
- Beekeeping Associations
and a Q & A session.

All you have to do is head to our youtube channel on the day: https://www.youtube.com/user/NSWTocalCollege

More updates to follow so stay tuned!

20/09/2023

Learn about the value of planting for bees and other pollinators in this Powerful Pollinators webinar.

Hear from native bee experts as they discuss how pollinators can play a role in supporting the natural environment and healthy farm enterprises, and learn how Powerful Pollinator Planting Guides can be used on farms and in gardens.

Presenters include beekeeper, botanist and ecologist Dr Anna Carrucan, Bees Business and Australian Pollinator Week founder Dr Megan Halcroft and Powerful Pollinators Project Manager Lea Hannah.

This free webinar will take place during Australian Pollinator Week on Sunday 12 November at 12pm AEDT.

Register for the webinar at https://australianpollinatorweek.org.au/event/powerful-pollinators-webinar/