What you'll learn
- Alcohol wash & sugar roll methods
- Treatment thresholds
- Approved miticide options
- Integrated pest management
- Small hive beetle control
1Alcohol wash & sugar roll methods
Monitoring mite loads before treating is essential. The alcohol wash is the gold standard: collect approximately 300 bees (about half a cup) from a brood frame into a jar with isopropyl alcohol, shake for 30 seconds, and count the mites in the wash. The sugar roll is a non-lethal alternative using powdered sugar instead of alcohol, though it is slightly less accurate. Test every 30 days during the brood-rearing season.
2Treatment thresholds
The widely accepted treatment threshold is 3 mites per 100 bees (3%) during the brood-rearing season. In Florida, where colonies rarely have a complete brood break, mite populations can explode quickly — treat at or before the threshold rather than waiting. In late summer and fall, when winter bees are being raised, even 1–2% may warrant treatment to protect the long-lived bees that will carry the colony through winter.
3Approved miticide options
Florida beekeepers have several EPA-registered options: oxalic acid (vaporization or dribble — most effective during broodless periods), formic acid (MAQS or Formic Pro — penetrates capped brood), and amitraz strips (Apivar — slow-release, highly effective). Each has temperature restrictions important in Florida's heat. Rotate treatments to reduce resistance. Never use treatments not registered for use in honey bee colonies.
4Integrated pest management
IPM combines monitoring, cultural controls, and chemical treatments as a last resort. Cultural controls include using screened bottom boards (mites fall through), brood breaks via splits or requeening, and selecting locally adapted stock with hygienic behavior. Drone comb removal can reduce mite reproduction since Varroa preferentially infests drone brood. IPM reduces chemical inputs and slows resistance development.
5Small hive beetle control
Small hive beetles (SHB) are a significant pest in Florida's warm, humid climate. Strong colonies are the best defense — bees chase and trap beetles in propolis prisons. Reduce hive space to match colony size so bees can patrol all areas. Beetle traps (oil traps placed between frames or at the bottom board) help in heavily infested hives. Keep the area around hives clear of debris where beetles pupate in the soil.