Varroa Treatment Options

Chemical treatments for varroa mites are going to be a necessary part of mite management for most hives (unless extraordinary measures are taken to avoid them).

Chemical treatments fall into three main categories: synthetic, essential oils, and organic acids. While it may seem intuitive that naturally-derived products are 'better' and more gentle, this is not always the case. Each treatment option has pros and cons associated with it.

I have compiled a table listing the most common treatment options in North America and the considerations for their use. I hope that this table can help you compare potential treatments, but you should always consult the label of a product and follow instructions for it's use as they will be more detailed than what you find here.

You can also watch videos on each of these treatments on the Honeybee Health Coalition website.