Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) remain the single greatest threat to honey bee colony survival worldwide. Left unmanaged, Varroa populations grow rapidly, weakening colonies and spreading viruses that can lead to collapse.
This Varroa Treatment Series from the Beekeeping Today Podcast brings together leading scientists, extension specialists, and experienced beekeepers to help you understand not just how to treat, but when and why treatments work.
Whether you’re in your first year or managing multiple colonies, this guide is designed to help you make informed, timely decisions that support colony health and long-term success.
What is Varroa and Why It Matters
Varroa mites reproduce in brood cells and feed on developing honey bees, transmitting viruses such as Deformed Wing Virus that can quickly Weaken and overwhelm a colony.
What makes Varroa especially challenging is that:
- Populations grow exponentially during brood rearing
- Damage is often invisible until it’s too late
- Treatment timing is just as important as treatment choice
Understanding the biology of both the mite and the honey bee colony is key to effective management.
Treatment Methods Covered in This Series
This series explores the most common and effective Varroa control methods, including:
- Organic acids (oxalic acid, formic acid)
- Essential oil-based treatments (thymol)
- Synthetic miticides
- Brood breaks and cultural controls
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies
Each method is discussed in the context of effectiveness, timing, limitations, and real-world application.
When to Treat: Timing is Everything
One of the most important takeaways from this series is that there is no single “best” treatment—only the right treatment at the right time.
Key seasonal considerations include:
- Spring buildup and early mite monitoring
- Summer population growth and threshold decisions
- Late summer / early fall treatments to protect winter bees
- Overwintering strategies and brood breaks
Managing Varroa is not a one-time event—it’s a year-round process tied closely to colony biology.
New to Varroa? Start Here
If you’re just getting started, begin with these foundational episodes to build your understanding:
- Introduction to Varroa biology and impact
- Monitoring methods and treatment thresholds
- Seasonal treatment strategies
These episodes will give you the framework needed to understand the more advanced discussions in the series.
Varroa Treatment Series Episodes
Explore the full series below, featuring conversations with researchers and experienced beekeepers sharing practical, science-based insights.
Introduction - Understanding Varroa and the Need for Treatment
In this kickoff episode of the BTP Shorts: Varroa Treatment Series, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman team up with Dr. David Peck of Betterbee to lay the foundation for what every beekeeper needs to know: why varroa mites are such a serious threat to honey bee colonies. David walks listeners through the varroa mite’s lifecycle, how they reproduce under brood caps, and why visual inspection alone isn’t enough to monitor infestations. The trio also covers key testing methods, including alcohol wash and sticky boards, and discusses how even low mite levels can spread devastating viruses. This short sets the stage for the rest of the series, giving listeners the context needed to make informed, seasonally timed treatment decisions.
VarroxSan Extended-Release Oxalic Acid Strips
In this episode, Jeff, Becky, and Dr. David Peck explore VarroxSan, an extended-release oxalic acid treatment that offers slow, sustained mite control over a 6–8 week period. David explains how the organic acid is delivered through glycerin-soaked fiberboard strips, making it ideal for use during honey flows—provided proper spacing is followed. The team covers the product’s origins, mode of action (even if not fully understood), and practical benefits like minimal brood disruption and ease of application. They also discuss the limitations, including its reduced effectiveness during cold clustering and in colonies with high mite loads.
Apistan & CheckMite+: Lessons from the Early Days of Varroa
In this episode, the team reflects on the first generation of synthetic miticides—Apistan (fluvalinate) and CheckMite+ (coumaphos)—which once revolutionized varroa control in the U.S. Dr. David Peck traces their rise, fall, and the resistance that followed widespread overuse. While these products are largely sidelined today due to residue concerns and diminished effectiveness, they remain important case studies in the evolution of varroa management and the ongoing need for treatment diversity.
Apivar (Amitraz): Still Effective, But For How Long
This episode takes a close look at Apivar, the widely used amitraz-based miticide known for its effectiveness and minimal hive disruption. Dr. David Peck explains how Apivar works, when to use it, and why it remains a go-to choice for many beekeepers. But with emerging signs of resistance and misuse in commercial operations, the conversation also sounds a cautionary note about overreliance on any one treatment. Listeners will learn how Apivar fits into a responsible IPM plan—and why rotating treatments is more critical than ever.
Oxalic Acid: Vaporization (OAV) and Dribble
This short in the Varroa Treatment Series focuses on oxalic acid applications—both vaporization (OAV) and dribble methods. Jeff, Becky, and Dr. David Peck explore how oxalic acid works, why it remains one of the most effective organic treatments available, and key updates to product labels that allow higher dosages and use during honey flows. Whether you prefer the power tool approach of vaporization or the simplicity of the dribble method, this episode offers practical advice on safety, timing, and integrating oxalic acid into a year-round Varroa management plan.
Formic Acid (FormicPro)
In this short, Jeff and Becky talk with Dr. David Peck of Betterbee about using formic acid, most commonly sold as Formic Pro, to control varroa mites. David explains how its vapors penetrate capped brood to kill mites where other treatments can’t reach, outlines the two application methods, and shares key tips on temperature limits, ventilation, protective gear, and colony strength for best results.
HopGuard 3
This short in our Varroa Treatment Series covers HopGuard 3, an organically derived miticide made from hops beta acids. Jeff, Becky, and Dr. David Peck discuss how HopGuard has evolved through its different versions, how the current strips are applied, and the pros and cons of using this product in a management program. While HopGuard 3 is safe to use with honey supers in place and can be useful during broodless periods or as part of a rotation to prevent resistance, its overall effectiveness is lower compared to other treatments. This episode provides beekeepers with practical guidance on where HopGuard 3 fits into an Integrated Pest Management strategy.
Apilife Var and Apiguard
Episode 8 of our Varroa Treatment Series covers two thymol-based products: ApiLife Var and Apiguard. Jeff, Becky, and Dr. David Peck discuss the differences between these treatments, how they are applied, and where they fit into an integrated pest management plan. ApiLife Var combines thymol with eucalyptus oil, menthol, and camphor in a wafer form, while Apiguard uses a thymol gel tray or direct application. Both can be effective tools when used properly, especially during broodless periods or in fall, but require careful timing to avoid honey contamination and multiple applications for best results. This episode helps beekeepers weigh the pros and cons of thymol-based treatments in their mite control strategy.
Non Chemical Treatment Options
In this Short, Jeff and Becky talk with Dr. David Peck about non-chemical varroa mite treatments and how they fit into a broader integrated pest management plan. From drone brood removal and brood breaks to screened bottom boards, powdered sugar dusting, CO₂ exposure, and heat treatments, David explains which methods show promise, which are less reliable, and how they can complement miticide use. This episode reminds beekeepers that while there’s no single solution, thoughtful use of non-chemical tools can reduce chemical dependence and improve long-term mite control.
Death By Varroa
In this sobering addition to the Varroa Treatments series, Jeff and Becky talk with Dr. David Peck of Betterbee about what happens when colonies succumb to Varroa mites and associated viruses. David explains how to recognize parasitic mite syndrome (PMS), often mistaken for foulbrood, and why late-season infestations lead to sudden colony collapse. The episode helps beekeepers identify early warning signs and reinforces why timely Varroa management is essential to colony survival.