More than 800,000 bees stolen across far north Queensland in ‘sophisticated’ operation

Far north Queensland apiarist Tom Bidner said 44 bee colonies had been stolen from three different beekeepers, the biggest theft in memory. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP

An estimated 800,000 bees, worth tens of thousands of dollars, have been stolen from properties in far north Queensland.

The industry is already reeling from the this month’s arrival of the varroa mite parasite.