Picturing beekeeping in Australia
The latest buzz at the Library is our new photos of beekeeping in Australia, including these photos by Mark Jesser showing the inspection and treatment of Varroa mites in regional New South Wales. Over 50 images are now available online.
Mark Jesser, European honey bees on a brood frame containing capped and uncapped cells at an apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668129443
Mark Jesser, European honey bees on a brood frame containing capped and uncapped cells at an apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668129443
Commissioned by the Library, the images capture hive inspections and Varroa mite detection. They show the important work to protect honeybee colonies in Griffith, New South Wales – in the heart of Australia's food bowl.
Mark Jesser, NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips and commercial beekeeper Brett McPherson check a weak colony at his apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668127204
Mark Jesser, NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips and commercial beekeeper Brett McPherson check a weak colony at his apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668127204
Mark Jesser, Commercial beekeeper Brett McPherson with a bee smoker at his apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668126007
Mark Jesser, Commercial beekeeper Brett McPherson with a bee smoker at his apiary near Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668126007
Mark Jesser, NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips holds a brood frame from a European honey bee colony at a small hobby farm near Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668125761
Mark Jesser, NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips holds a brood frame from a European honey bee colony at a small hobby farm near Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668125761
Mark Jesser, Hobbist beekeeper Les Ellis on his property in Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668128966
Mark Jesser, Hobbist beekeeper Les Ellis on his property in Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668128966
These photos highlight the work of NSW Department of Primary Industries. This includes educational outreach to support both commercial and hobbyist beekeepers.
Mark Jesser, NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips places Varroa mite treatment strips into a European honeybee hive near Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668126649
Mark Jesser, NSW Varroa Development Officer Simon Phillips places Varroa mite treatment strips into a European honeybee hive near Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668126649
Mark Jesser, A Bayvarol strip, used to treat Varroa mites, is placed in a brood frame of a European honeybee hive in Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668127285
Mark Jesser, A Bayvarol strip, used to treat Varroa mites, is placed in a brood frame of a European honeybee hive in Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668127285
Mark Jesser, A brood frame from a European honey bee hive being inspected for Varroa mites by uncapping worker brood cells using a drone uncapping fork, Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668129283
Mark Jesser, A brood frame from a European honey bee hive being inspected for Varroa mites by uncapping worker brood cells using a drone uncapping fork, Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668129283
Mark Jesser, A drone uncapping fork is used to inspect worker brood cells for Varroa mites from a European honey bee hive near Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668129123
Mark Jesser, A drone uncapping fork is used to inspect worker brood cells for Varroa mites from a European honey bee hive near Griffith, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668129123
Mark Jesser, Macro images of Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) captured in a studio setting, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668129786
Mark Jesser, Macro images of Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) captured in a studio setting, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3668129786
Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) are invasive parasites which affect European honeybees (Apis mellifera). Their arrival in Australia in 2022 poses a threat to pollination and agriculture. Prevention and control are now a major concern for our beekeeping industry on the East Coast.
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