Varroa mite management
Integrated pest management
Managing Varroa mite is more than just applying miticide strips within a hive. Integrated pest management (known as IPM) uses a variety of techniques to keep Varroa mite numbers below a level where they cause economic damage to the colony and beekeeper.
IPM involves:
- understanding the Varroa life cycle
- rigorously monitoring Varroa levels and evaluating results
- applying IPM controls appropriate to your beekeeping operation, environment and colonies’ developmental phase if Varroa levels are too high
- continuing monitoring and management as much as necessary, rotating different types of chemical controls to prevent Varroa from developing chemical resistance.
Watch the video on integrated pest management when dealing with Varroa mite in your hives.
This introduction to Integrated Pest Management walks through the practical steps beekeepers can take to find, minimise, and either prevent, eradicate, or manage pests and diseases in their colonies.
- To learn more about Varroa biology and monitoring, read the Varroa mite Primefact
- To learn more about management options for Varroa mite in NSW, read the Varroa management Primefact
- To learn more about Varroa permits, read the Varroa permit Primefact
- To learn more about Varroa labels, read the Varroa label Primefact
- To learn more about Varroa Safety Data Sheets, read the Varroa Safety Data Sheets Primefact
Sourcing miticide strips
APVMA approved miticide treatments are commercially available from retailers in NSW.
What do I need to do?
- Continue to monitor your hives using an alcohol wash, sugar shake or soapy water wash
- Report the first positive detection in your hives using the Report a Biosecurity Concern form.
- If you are concerned about the mite load in your hives, contact a Bee Biosecurity Officer by email bee.biosecurity@dpird.nsw.gov.au
The following factsheets have been developed to assist beekeepers across a range of topics relating to Varroa mite management.
Varroa Management
- Beginning in bees
- Drone trapping
- Effects of miticides on honey bees
- How to keep your hives healthy
- Honey bee viruses present in Australia
- Hyperthermia treatment
- Managing caught swarms in the presence of Varroa
- Miticides and queens
- Safe use of respirators by beekeepers
- Slime out, poisoning or Varroa?
- Splitting hives for Varroa control
- Varroa management checklist
Managing your beekeeping business
Varroa Management Guide
Chemical control options
There are currently eight products approved for controlling Varroa destructor in Australia:
Non-synthetic:
Synthetic:
All Varroa miticides and treatments must be strictly used according to their respective permits and label instructions (click each product for full details).
Treatments must not be used simultaneously with other miticides and should only be used when treatment thresholds have been met.
Chemical Resistance
Chemical resistance reduces the efficacy of miticides and will put your bee's health at risk. After the recent discovery of pyrethroid resistance in NSW it is essential to follow these steps to reduce the risk of chemical resistance:
- Rotate through chemical mode of action groups when choosing treatments
- Follow label and permit conditions
- Check mite levels during and after treatment to assess efficacy.
If you suspect your treatments are failing, call the Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244, fill in the online form, or email the Bee Biosecurity team bee.biosecurity@dpird.nsw.gov.au
Varroa Management Tool
The Varroa Management Tool will walk you through the decisions you need to make to determine how best to manage Varroa mites in your hive. Using a series of questions about threshold, types of treatment, the presence of brood and honey supers, and the colony development phase, the tool will provide you with a range of available cultural, mechanical and chemical treatment options based on your answers.
Treatment Plan
A Varroa Treatment Plan can help beekeepers:
- keep track of specific details unique to their apiaries,
- streamline operations,
- chart a forward program of mite management,
- remove confusion, and
- potentially save time and money.
Beekeepers can use the Excel spreadsheet to create their own customised plan. Choosing a scenario similar to your region can help you get started in creating your own unique Varroa Treatment Plan.
A Varroa Treatment Plan includes information specific to your apiary including hive locations, weather, colony cycles, labour scheduling, income producing activities, existing treatment practices, costings and more. It’s best to include as much data as you have available.
Download the Varroa Treatment Plan Template and create your own customised Varroa Treatment Plan following these simple steps. Use scenario 1 and scenario 2 to assist you in getting started.
