Varroa Mite Monitoring and Treatment

Varroa destructor is the most significant threat to commercial honey bee colonies. Effective monitoring and treatment is essential for colony survival.


Monitoring methods:

  • Alcohol wash: Most accurate. Collect 300 bees (half-cup), wash in alcohol, count mites. Result is mites per 100 bees.
  • Sugar roll: Similar to alcohol wash but non-lethal. Slightly less accurate.
  • Sticky board: 24-72 hour natural mite drop count. Good for trend monitoring.

    • Treatment thresholds:

  • Below 1/100: Excellent — no treatment needed
  • 1-2/100: Acceptable — monitor closely
  • 2-3/100: Treat soon — plan treatment within 2 weeks
  • 3-5/100: Treat immediately — colony at risk
  • Above 5/100: Emergency — colony declining rapidly

    • Common treatments: Oxalic acid vaporization (OAV), Apivar strips (amitraz), formic acid (MAQS/Formic Pro), and thymol (Apiguard). Rotate treatment modes of action to prevent resistance.

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