Apivar® Varroa Mite Treatment Strips

Apivar® is a widely used and highly effective treatment for controlling Varroa destructor mites in honey bee colonies. It is trusted by commercial and hobbyist beekeepers worldwide due to its reliability, ease of use, and minimal disruption to normal hive activity when used correctly.

Active Ingredient

Apivar® contains Amitraz, a formamidine acaricide that disrupts the nervous system of Varroa mites. It has low volatility, making it suitable for use within the brood nest.

How Apivar® Works

The strips are placed directly into the brood chamber, where bees naturally come into contact with them. As bees walk over the strips, small amounts of the active ingredient are distributed throughout the colony via bee-to-bee contact. This ensures effective exposure to mites living on adult bees and within the brood area.

Packaging and Shelf Life

Apivar® strips are supplied in vacuum-sealed foil pouches to preserve potency. The strips are not individually wrapped and must be used within 14 days of opening. Any unused strips after this period should be discarded according to local regulations.

How to Use Apivar®

For each brood chamber, use 2 strips. Do not exceed the recommended dosage. Separate the brood frames slightly and hang one strip between frames in the brood area, ensuring bees can access both sides of the strip and that it is placed near active brood, not against hive walls. If using two brood boxes, place strips evenly across both boxes.

Leave the strips in the hive for 42–56 days (6–8 weeks) to cover multiple brood cycles. After the treatment period, remove and dispose of the strips. Do not reuse strips.

When to Use Apivar®

It is best applied outside of honey flow. Ideal timing is early spring before honey supers are added or late summer/early autumn after honey harvest. Apivar® is not recommended when honey supers intended for human consumption are on the hive.

Key Things to Look Out For

Do not use during a honey flow, cut or reuse strips, exceed the recommended dosage, or leave strips in the hive longer than 56 days. To prevent mite resistance, avoid repeated back-to-back use without rotation, and rotate with treatments from different chemical groups. Apivar® works best in strong, well-populated colonies with adequate bee traffic over the strips.

Advantages of Apivar®

Apivar® is highly effective when used correctly. It is simple to apply with minimal labour, causes low disturbance to the colony, and is effective even in the presence of brood. It is suitable for both hobbyist and commercial operations.

Important Notes

Always follow label instructions and local regulatory guidelines. Proper timing, placement, and removal are critical to ensure effectiveness and protect hive health.