The world needs successful beekeepers 

For more than 100 million years, since the time of the dinosaurs, the honey bee has survived and thrived. That changed in the 1950s when a parasite from the Eastern honey bee—Varroa destructor—spread to the Western honey bee with devastating results.  

Today, we know how to manage Varroa, but it is essential that new beekeepers understand the need for regular, effective treatment throughout the year and most especially in early August.

To help new beekeepers start with confidence, we offer free Beginner Beekeeper Classes every Saturday morning in April. We cover the four pillars of sound beekeeping including and likely more importantly,  proven organic ways to control varroa mites.  

Instructor: Janette Chudleigh, Registered Beekeeping Instructor - BCHPA 
Location: HoneyBee Lane Bees, 6235 Lakes Road, Duncan, BC
Cost:  This is a community service and Free
Registration: Pre-registration required - contact: honeybeelanebees@gmail.com cell 250-701-4766

It is essential that Beekeepers learn to control this tiny mite from the moment they arrive home with a nucleus colony.

What Is the Varroa mite?

The Varroa Destructor mite is a parasitic external mite that attacks honey bees. It is considered to be one of the most damaging pest of the Western honey bee worldwide.

Appearance

  • Size: Approximately 1.1 mm long and 1.6 mm wide (about the size of a pinhead).

  • Shape: Oval and slightly flattened, allowing it to hide between the bee’s abdominal segments.

  • Colour: Typically reddish-brown in adults. Newly emerged mites are a pale creamy colour.

Varroa mites can be seen by the naked eye

Where they are found:

Varroa mites attach primarily to the thorax and abdomen of adult bees, where they feed on the bees themselves.  
They also enter brood cells, especially drone brood (male larvae), where they reproduce after the cells are capped.  

To be a sucessful bee "keeper" folks MUST learn to control  this tiny creature.  Without proper consistent, regular care, honey bees are unlikely to survive their first winter.

Damage caused by varroa mites:

  • Weakens individual bees by feeding on their vital tissue

  • Shortens lifespan and reduces foraging ability of all  bees including queen bees

  • Can deform developing bees

  • Transmits multiple viral diseases, including Deformed Wing Virus (DWV)

  • Causes colony population collapse if left unmanaged

  • Causes honey bees to abscond in late summer when infestations are high.

Why are Varroa mites so dangerous?

A single untreated colony can produce thousands of mites in a season, and reinfest neighbouring colonies as female worker bees and male drones visit or rob other local hives. Because Varroa reproduce inside capped brood, their population grows much faster than the bees unless treated.   

This photo shows a honey bee larvae and pupae at various stages of development, with a single varroa mite highlighted in red. Worker bees cap developing larvae with beeswax around day 8–9. From the time a fertilized egg is laid, female worker bees emerge after 21 days, drones take approximately 25 days, and queens develop the fastest, emerging in just 16 days.  The picture shows some developing bees at "purple eye" stage with cappings omitted.    Our recommended treatment plan is 2 grams per deep box delivered by vaporizer once every month except for August.  In August we recommend once a week.  We recommend a screened bottom board and a visual inspection if the bottom board removable white board 24 hours after treatment.  If you see mites on the white board. continue to treat every 3 days, not including the day of treatment until you stop seeing mites.  In August of 2024, the writer completed 14 treatments before there was no longer a drop of dead mites on the bottom board.  We do not advocate leaving 1% of mites in your colonies.  If you see mites, continue to treat until you don't see dead mites.  

HoneyBee Lane Bees - Our Recommended Oxalic Acid Vaporization Protocol (its what we do).  

Where does Oxalic acid come from?  OA is a completely natural substance found in Asparagus, Broccoli, Lettuce, Brussel Sprouts, Beet Leaves, Collards, Spinach, Parsley, Rhubarb leaf and stalk.   A single serving of Spinach provides one full gram of Oxalic Acid.  

Purpose
To achieve effective control of Varroa destructor through consistent monitoring and responsive treatment, particularly during periods of high mite pressure.  

🟧 WHY AUGUST MATTERS

Understanding Peak Varroa Risk

August is the most critical month of the year for Varroa mite management.

During August, mite populations peak at the same time colonies are raising the bees that must survive through winter and a colony's population is decreasing in preparation for winter.  The honey bee workers emerging in August are  “winter bees” and need to live far longer than summer bees, Their health at emergence determines whether a colony will survive until spring.

When Varroa levels are high in August:

  • Developing winter bees are weakened before they even emerge

  • Viruses transmitted by mites increase dramatically

  • Colonies may appear strong in September, then collapse suddenly in fall or winter

  • Colonies with high infestation rates may also abscond or die off in August.

This is why colonies that were “fine all summer” often fail in late summer or after the first cold snap of the fall.

August is not the time for passive treatment schedules.  

It is the month that requires:

  • Frequent monitoring

  • Shortened treatment intervals

  • Persistence until mite drop stops entirely

Effective Varroa control in August directly improves:

  • Winter bee longevity

  • Colony immune function

  • Overwinter survival rates

Strong spring colonies begin with decisive action in August.

Standard Treatment Rate

  • Dosage: 2 grams of oxalic acid per deep brood box (more is allowable up to 4 grams - we lose queens at 4 grams)

  • Application method: Vaporization

Treatment Frequency

  • January–July & September–December:
    • Once per month

  • August (Peak Mite Pressure):
    • Once per week - if you see mites, treat every 3 days, not counting the day of treatment until no mites are seen on the bottom board.

Hive Configuration

  • Use a screened bottom board to allow accurate monitoring of mite drop.

Post-Treatment Monitoring

  • Conduct a visual inspection 24 hours after treatment by examining the bottom board.

  • Monitoring mite drop is essential for determining treatment effectiveness.

Responsive Treatment Protocol

  • If dead mites are observed on the bottom board:

    • Continue treatments every 3 days

    • Do not count the day of treatment as a treatment-free day

    • Continue until no further mite drop is observed

Field Experience

  • In August 2024, the author required 14 consecutive treatments before mite drop ceased entirely, demonstrating the severity of late-summer mite pressure and the need for persistence.

Treatment Philosophy

  • We do not advocate tolerating residual mite populations.

  • If mites are present, treatment should continue.

  • Effective control is achieved only when mite drop is no longer observed.

  • Key Takeaway

Varroa management is not a “set and forget” process. Observe, respond, and continue treatment until mites are eliminated, especially during high-risk periods.

HoneyBee Lane Bees, 6235 Lakes Road, Duncan, BC Canada.  www.honeybeelanebees.ca cell 250-701-4766