Updated on September 11th, 2022<\/p>\n
Varroa mites are a nearly universal threat to the survival of your beehives. Some beekeepers try to operate without the use of chemicals (“treatment-free”). However, many use miticides designed to kill mites, but not bees, for varroa mitigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With at least ten miticides available (and some with multiple delivery systems), how do you choose the best one to use?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Varroa mite treatments have limitations (temperature, brood, population, and honey flow), and should be varied to avoid resistance. Choosing the best miticide requires a decision tree based on circumstances. Using our tree below, formic and oxalic acids are best for full season coverage.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n However, opinions vary. In this article, we will discuss varroa mites and lay out the the treatment options both synthetic and organic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of this article, you can find our “decision tree” chart. On this chart you can narrow down your treatment options quickly based on the factors we describe.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are more interested in treatment-free beekeeping, see our article What Is Treatment-Free Beekeeping (A Controversial Topic)<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n