NSW Ports and Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi said yesterday that the sentinel hive would detect and destroy any parasitic varroa destructor mite that may have stowed away on international ships visiting the port.

NSW Department of Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said Australia was the only major beekeeping country not to be infested with the mite.

"This gives us a distinct marketing and beekeeping advantage over the other major honey producers and we want to keep it that way," Mr Macdonald said.

"Early detection of exotic bee diseases is also important for the protection of a range of agricultural and horticultural industries which rely on pollination by honey bees."

The beehive, which is home to 60,000 bees and is located in bushland on Tom Thumb Rd, will be tended by Warilla beekeeper Louie Kelbert, who will inspect the hive every three months and file his results to the department.

During the monitoring period, Mr Kelbert will fumigate the hive with a bee-friendly miticide strip.

It is hoped that if varroa mites hitch a ride ashore through grain, soil or plant life from international ships, they will attach themselves to one of the hive's bees and be killed when the bees returns to the hive.

The sentinel hive is part of a national scheme. Hives are already in place at ports and airports in Sydney, Newcastle and Richmond.