The short days of winter can have an advantage for killing varroa, due to the absence, or scarcity, of brood in the hive. Varroa mites reproduce in honey bee brood, and most of their early life is spent there. As much as 80% of a colony’s varroa mites will, during periods of high honey bee and brood production, be contained within the cells of worker and drone cells.
Unlike wild bees, the colonies in our hives don’t hibernate. They gather together inside the hive, forming a cluster of bees, and concentrate their reserves and energy in order to maintain the colony’s temperature.
Véto-pharma recently launched Api-bioxal in the U.S., an oxalic acid treatment that controls Varroa mite infestations in honeybee colonies. Api-bioxal is an EPA-approved oxalic acid treatment and is strictly controlled, making it safe for bees and beekeepers alike.
Veto-pharma has recently released a revised tutorial video for its market-leading Apivar miticide, providing hints and tips for successful treatment of colonies.
