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800,000 Bees Stolen in Australia: Bizarre 'Bee Heists' Rock Beekeeping Industry
M
Moneycontrol•23-09-2026, 13:05
800,000 Bees Stolen in Australia: Bizarre 'Bee Heists' Rock Beekeeping Industry
- •Over 800,000 bees were stolen from commercial beehives in Queensland's Atherton Tablelands, causing tens of thousands of dollars in losses for beekeepers.
- •The thefts involved entire colonies removed from dozens of hives, indicating the perpetrators possessed considerable beekeeping knowledge.
- •Stolen bees are crucial for honey production and crop pollination, with the thefts occurring during the avocado-growing season when demand for pollination services is high.
- •Police suspect the thieves have connections to the commercial beekeeping industry due to the specialized knowledge required to move large numbers of active hives.
- •The bizarre crime adds to the challenges faced by Australian beekeepers, who are also battling the spread of varroa mites.
Key Questions Answered
More than 800,000 bees were stolen from commercial beehives across multiple properties in Queensland's Atherton Tablelands, including 14 hives emptied in Kairi and 41 commercial hives left without bees, brood, and frames at another site.
Police investigating the case believe the scale and manner of the thefts point to someone with professional knowledge because moving a large number of active commercial hives requires careful handling and transport of bees, brood, and frames without destroying the hive.
The disappearance of the colonies coincides with the spread of varroa mites, a parasite capable of seriously damaging honeybee colonies.
