Tiny mite could cost Australia millions of dollars

Hundreds of beehives around the New South Wales city of Newcastle are to be destroyed in coming days, according to the honey bee industry, in a bid to contain a deadly invader.

An undated supplied photo of a Varroa mite on a honeybee pupa. Source: AAP

An emergency order remains in place prohibiting the movement of bees in the state after the deadly varroa mite was found at hives near the Port of Newcastle last week.