An estimated 300,000 hives will be transported to and from NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria to pollinate almond orchards this year, sparking fears of a varroa mite increase across borders.

The deadly parasite has quickly spread in NSW since control measures were relaxed, with one beekeeper saying the pest is already in other states.

An ABC report said there are hopes for a post-varroa future, with research underway into alternative pollinators and self-pollinating almond varieties. 

However, the report said there are fears the annual pollination of almonds could become a super-spreader event for the bee killing parasite Varroa destructor.

Hives crisscrossing the country this year will be needed to pollinate more than 62,000ha of orchards, according to the Almond Board of Australia.

For the past 20 years, NSW apiarist Jon Lockwood has taken 10,000 hives from his state's Central West to pollinate an almond crop at Balranald, near the border with Victoria.

He told the ABC he has decided to still make the annual trip, despite his hives containing varroa, but they will stay on just one farm, away from other bees, to reduce the risk of spread.

"We’ve had a long-term relationship with our farm, but definitely for the industry on a broader scale it is very tricky at the moment," Mr Lockwood says.

"If you have mites in your hives, you can't cross the border into Victoria,” he says.

Mr Lockwood believes the mite has already spread to other states, with testing for at-risk hives providing only a small sample of bees to inspect.

"The alcohol wash system [which removes mites from bees] is used to monitor the number of mites in a hive, it's not a detection tool," he said.

"I'd suggest that we've already had a super-spreader event, it's already everywhere and we just haven't found it yet."

The national varroa mite management plan, which was agreed to by industry bodies in March, identifies best-practice methods to avoid spreading the mite, with an emphasis on education.

But states have different rules to reduce the risk of spreading the mite.

Queensland apiarists can move their bees under a permit system, assessed on a case-by-case basis, but live bees cannot return to Queensland from NSW.

Apiarist John Ferguson has sent his bees from Thargomindah in Queensland's far south-west to NSW for the past 40 years.

But this year, his 500 hives are staying north of the border to avoid the risk of spreading varroa.

"I can go into NSW, but I can't come back again, and I am not going to take that risk," he said

"The pest has not yet spread to Queensland.

“There is no varroa here and that's how I would like it to stay.”

A spokesperson for Agriculture Victoria says hives testing positive to varroa would not be allowed to cross the border and beekeepers need to test their hives before entry.

There are no movement or testing restrictions in NSW, a spokesperson for the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development told the ABC but beekeepers are required to keep records of hive movements from the last three years.

In South Australia, border controls are in place and beekeepers are required to notify the Department of Primary Industries and Regions if varroa is detected. 

Griffith beekeeper Steve Cunial said the pest's arrival was imminent.

Mr Cunial, who is also the president of the NSW Apiarists' Association Riverina branch, operates his 800 beehives in a varroa-free zone, but expects that to change after almond pollination season.

“There'll be a lot of beekeepers moving with their bees all over the state — this will cause varroa to be spread even further, but it's just inevitable.”

He says many beekeepers are struggling with the extra work and higher costs involved in the business now.

“We're dealing with low honey prices, high fuel prices, high insurance costs, general high business running costs, and treating varroa is going to add a substantial cost to running our business,” he said.

“It's a perfect storm … I have never seen as many beehives and bee businesses up for sale.”

 Chief executive of the Australian Honeybee Industry Council, Danny Le Feuvre said there is likely to be more closures but there is hope for a ‘post-varroa’ future.

"We do see the light at the end of the tunnel," he said.

“Once we get through the next few years ... there will be some great opportunities for beekeepers.”

Research is underway into varroa-resistant bees, potential alternative pollinators like hoverflies, and self-pollinating almond varieties.