NOTE: Always follow application instructions precisely, or you risk: personal injury, bee death including the queen, and creating pests resistant to the treatment. Please send any additions or corrections to our MCBA Webmaster. Thanks!
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MITE CONTROL
| Medication (see note) | Active Ingredient | Advantages | Disadvantages | Comments | Timing | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apivar | amitra, a triazapentadiene compound, a member of the amidine chemical family (synthetic pesticide) | * Contaminates Honey | Use with strict adherence to label directions (specifically the removal of strips after 42 days or a maximum of 56 days) on approved treatments reduces development of resistant Varroa populations. | Cannot be used while bees are making honey Remove 2 weeks prior to honey flow) |  | |
| Apistan | Fluvalinate (synthetic pesticide) | Easy to use | Mites are often resistant to Apistan | Not effective | ||
| Checkmite | Coumaphos (organophosphate) organic pesticide | Harsh chemical. Application: 5-6 weeks (2 strips per brood chamber) | Mites often show tolerance | |||
| ApiLifeVar | Essential Oils - thymol, eucalyptol, menthol, camphor | No resistance. Also proven to be effective against tracheal mites | Time-consuming application: (3 apps. 7-10 days apart). Temperature Sensitive. | Small hive beetles should be under control before using this medication. | Cannot be used while bees are making honey nor with supers in place. | |
| Mite-Away Quick Strips | Formic Acid | No resistance. Also proven to be effective against tracheal mites. | Temperature Sensitive!! (apply when daytime high is 50°F – 85°F on day of application. Excessive temperatures (>92°F) during the first three days of treatment may cause excessive brood mortality and queen loss. | Reports of 95% control of mites. Use strictly as directed. Formic acid can kill honeybees, including the Queen. Visit www.miteaway.com. The product’s efficacy is inconsistent and influenced by the amount of brood present and size of the hive being treated. LOTS of info: http://nodglobal.com/faq-maqs/ | Can be used while bees are making honey with supers on colonies Only apply when daytime high is 50°F – 85°F and subsequent 3 days will be less than 92°F | |
| Apiguard | Thymol (organic pesticide) | Also active against tracheal mite and chalk brood. | Strong odor & messy * can cause bee mortality if used in high temperatures and may incite robbing behavior to hives undergoing treatment. | Thymol is a naturally occurring substance. No harmful effects on colony. Extremely easy to use. | Cannot be used while bees are making honey nor with supers in place. | |
| Hopguard II | Potassium salt of hop beta acids | Natural prod. No ill effects on hive functions. Low cost | Limited effect on mites sealed with bee pupae | Excellent for winter clean up of mites | Can be used while bees are making honey with supers on colonies https://betatec.com/bee-health/ | |
| Oxalic Acid | Oxalic Acid | No resistance. | Does not kill mites in capped cells - which is where spend most of their lifecycle, and where they are breeding. | naturally occurring acid found in plants. It became popular in Europe & Canada for treating Varroa Mites in a honey bee hive | Cannot be used while bees are making honey nor with supers in place. Best used when no brood. | |
| Powdered Sugar | Powdered Sugar Note: store-bought PS contains cornstarch which irritates bee stomachs and is a fine particulate hard for bees to groom. Grind your own in blender. | Natural Ingredients. May be used to reduce mite count in spring w/ supers on. | Not very effective, and only removes phoretic mites (the ones on adult bees) not mites inside capped cells - i.e. the ones laying eggs. Must apply consistently, several times per week for three weeks. | Must be used in conjunction w/ screened bottom board or no bottom board. Good emergency remedy for reducing mite count. |
ADDITIONAL HIVE MEDS:
Medication (see note) | Problem | Active Ingredient | Advantages | Disadvantages | Comments |
Terramycin | American Foulbrood European Foulbrood | Terramycin (antibiotic) |
| Some resistance shown | AF best destroyed by fire. Severe mite infestation & damage can simulate most of the foulbrood symptoms. |
Fumagillin/Fumadil B | Nosema Apis & Ceranae | Antibiotic | Mix in syrup-spring/late summer | A microscopic fungus | Apis-defication streaks on the hive in spring Ceranae-late summer population collapse |
Tylan | American Foulbrood European Foulbrood | Tylan (antibiotic) |
| Expensive | Mix 1:100 with powdered sugar |
Grease Patties | Tracheal mite | Vegetable Shortening & Crystal Sugar | Can leave in year round. | More beetles with patties. | Works by masking odor of young bees from mite. |
Menthol | Tracheal mite | Menthol |
| Temperature sensitive | Requires a spacer |
Moth Crystals | Wax Moth | Para dichlorobenzene | Effective for treating empty supers to prevent moth damage to drawn comb. | Do not use in hives with live bees. Air out equip before reusing-esp w/pkgs | Wax moth damage is the result of weak or declining hives in late summer. Do not confuse moth crystals with moth balls (naphthalene). |
Checkmite | Small Hive Beetle | Coumaphos |
| Not effective when strip is placed in the cluster. Harsh chemical. | Beetle traps w/ checkmite are very effective . |
Beetle Bait Station Beetle Barn Beetle Jail | Small Hive Beetle | Veg oil, vinegar, and insecticide bait | Bait is effective. Oil & vinegar are marginal and can be messy | Insecticide is not an approved method. | Available from BJ. Kills adult beetles in the hive. |
Gardstar | Small hive beetle pupae | Permethrin | Kills pupae stage in the soil. | Beetles have already reproduced and destroyed the bee colony. | Not a preventative. Use only after beetles have reproduced. Use as a soil drench. |