Varroa mites can quickly become a very serious problem for bees and bee keepers. To keep your colony safe from the effects of this parasite, be sure to perform periodic inspections. Using the VarroaCheck makes the process simple and provides an accurate assessment of the infestation in a hive.
What are Varroa Mites?
Varroa mites are external parasites of honey bees that feed on developing brood as well as full-grown adults. In the US, these mites were first detected in Florida in the mid 1980s but are now found nation-wide. In many cases, colonies infested with Varroa mites may produce malformed brood with missing wings or legs, and parasitized adult bees are often weak and short-lived. Left untreated, infestations quickly grow out of control and may kill entire colonies.
Adult Varroa mites have eight legs, are a reddish-brown color and have an oval body typically between 1 and 1.5 mm across. While they are large enough to be seen with the naked eye, their flat shape allows them to hide between the segments of the thorax or abdomen of honey bees.
Why Should I Check for Varroa Mites?
A colony infested with Varroa mites typically produces less honey and is susceptible to secondary infections. Checking for Varroa mites is an essential part of controlling this parasite and limiting the effects on your colonies. Using the VarroaCheck makes it simple to check for mites, assess the level of infestation and determine the effectiveness of treatments. Don’t wait until you see the effects of an infestation to check for Varroa mites! Detecting mites early is the best way to keep them under control.
Primarily, mites are spread among colonies by drifting drones and workers. Occasionally, a honey bee may pick up Varroa mites when robbing smaller colonies. However, no matter how a colony becomes infected, when left untreated the mites quickly multiply within the hive.
How do I Check for Varroa Mites?
When inspecting your hives, we suggest wearing protective clothing and using a bee smoker to help keep the colony calm.
First, remove the yellow lid and add a small amount of winter windshield washer fluid (or one part rubbing alcohol diluted in four parts water) to just cover the bottom of the white collection basket.
Next, pull a brood frame out of your hive.
Make sure the queen is not part of your sample! We suggest locating the queen so she may be isolated and protected during this process.
Then, remove the white basket from the VarroaCheck and collect a sample of bees from the frame. For best results, fill the basket to the indicator marks for a sample of 200 or 300 bees (about 1/2 cup of bees).
After returning the brood frame, place the filled basket into the VarroaCheck and screw the top on the container.
Once that is done, gently shake the VarroaCheck to immerse the sample bees in the washing fluid. This will prevent collected bees from escaping during the next step.
After the sample is thoroughly wet, unscrew the top and fill the VarroaCheck with fluid to the indicator mark on the transparent bowl.
Next, replace the top and gently shake the container for 60 seconds. This allows the fluid to separate mites from the bees in your sample so they fall through the holes in the collection basket.
Finally, remove the basket and count the number of Varroa mites collected in the bottom of the bowl.
If your mite count is 3 or greater than 3, you will need to treat bees for varroa mites.
The best time to treat bees for varroa mites is when the amount of brood is low in the hive (typically early spring and late fall).
At Rocky Mountain Bee Supply, we advocate using the most gentle mite treatments available. Check out these products:
