Potential economic impacts of the Varroa bee mite on the pollination of major crops in Papua New Guinea

• National Agricultural Research Institute, Papua New Guinea
• Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Australia

Insect pollination increases the yield and the quality of many important crops, and bees are widely regarded as the most important pollinators. But in recent decades the most potent threat to bee pollination has come from a deadly parasitic mite of bees, Varroa destructor. So far Papua New Guinea and Australia have been free of this mite disease, but in other countries such as the USA and New Zealand it has caused significant economic impacts. Recently it was discovered that the endemic Varroa species in PNG (V. jacobsoni) has acquired traits that threaten to make it as deadly as Varroa destructor. This project will assess how this significant development could affect crop production in PNG through the development of future scenarios for the impact of bee mites on pollination. Scientists will estimate the potential economic losses and associated ranges for the crops of highest value within each scenario developed and identify knowledge gaps regarding management of this threat to PNG agriculture as a guide for future research. They will develop a bioeconomic model for PNG based on one already used by CSIRO to assess the possible economic impact should Varroa invade Australia. Outcomes include improved decisions for PNG on the strategies needed to control the newly identified V. jacobsoni, and benefits for Australia because PNG is one of the main potential pathways for entry of this disease.