8,000 bees worth $20,000 stolen from 41 hives in Australia

Around 8,000 bees worth over $20,000 were allegedly stolen from 41 commercial hives on Queensland's Atherton Tablelands, Australia. Thieves used professional equipment to swap internal frames and remove brood boxes without disturbing wooden hives. Police suspect an industry insider. The theft compounds losses from the varroa mite parasite, which is already devastating beekeepers.