U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Carl Hayden Bee Research Center: Tucson, AZ
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Information
                        Africanized Honey Bees
                                    Bee Safety
                                    Online Books
                                    Other NewsSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Pacific West Area Tucson, Arizona Carl Hayden Bee Research Center Research Varroa How to Monitor, Sample, and Treat for Varroa





- Cold Storage Overview
- Why put colonies in cold storage to overwinter?
- When to put colonies in cold storage?
- Which colonies to put into cold storage?
- Cold Storage Overwintering Tool
- Overview
- Objective 1: Climate effects on bloom and floral rewards
- Objective 2. Landscape level nutrition models
- Objective 3: Determine pollinator number, diversity and pathogen load
- Objective 4: Develop a management plan for overwintering colonies in cold storage
- Outcomes
- Varroa Overview
- Varroa mite life cycle and reproduction
- Varroosis
- How to Monitor, Sample, and Treat for Varroa
- When to Sample
- Sugar Shake
- Alcohol Wash
- Sticky Board
- Disclaimer
- Current Research: Mite Migration
- Introduction
- BEEPOP+ Model

1 - How to Monitor, Sample, and Treat for Varroa
               2 - When to Sample
                  3 - Sugar Shake
                  4 - Alcohol Wash
                  5 - Sticky Board
                  6 - Disclaimer  When to Sample for Varroa Mites Seasonal mite control will differ based on location and various conditions such as temperature, season length, and honey flow. It is a good idea to sample your colonies regularly throughout the year using the sugar shake, alcohol wash, or sticky board method. This will indicate mite load and thenecessity for Varroa treatment. Treatment is recommended if the sugar shake or alcohol wash results in 3 mites per 100 bees or if there are more than 30 mites per dayon the sticky board. While some Varroa treatments are temperature specific, it is beneficial to rotate treatments so as not to encourage resistance.**Current EPA-approved Mite Treatments:** Amitraz (Apivar), Formic Acid (MAQS), HopGuard, Oxalic Acid, Thymol (Apiguard). **SPRING – March, April, May**Sample colonies in early March. Bee foraging on almond flower. Photo credit: Emily Watkins de Jong/ARSUserFiles/20220500/Varroa/When to Sample/bee foraging on almond flower.png **SUMMER - June, July, August**Colony populations are building during this time of year and so are populations of Varroa mites. This can be a difficult time to treat especially if there is a honey flow. Colonies should be checked monthly for mites. If necessary, colonies may be treated with miticides that are EPA approved for use during the honey flow, otherwise treatment should only be applied once honey is removed. Bee on honey. Photo credit: Emily Watkins de Jong/ARSUserFiles/20220500/Varroa/When to Sample/Bee on honey.png **FALL – September, October, November**It is VERY important to check colonies more frequently during the Fall. If colonies have high mite loads at this time, they are more likely to crash and potentially die during the winter. Colonies may be sampled every three weeks in the fall, weather permitting. If treatment is necessary, rotate colony treatment by using a different miticide than usedearlier in the year to discourage resistance. Honeybee foraging on Texas Ranger. Photo Credit: Emily Watkins de Jong/ARSUserFiles/20220500/Varroa/When to Sample/bee on texas ranger.png **WINTER – December, January, February**Colonies should be left alone or monitored with sticky boards for minimal disruption of the winter cluster. Winter hive. Photo Credit: Journal-Patriot/ARSUserFiles/20220500/Varroa/When to Sample/winter colony.png << Previous

                        1
                        [2]
                        3
                        4
                        5
                        6

                     Next >>


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov