Varroa Mite Treatment Options Explained

Formic Pro

Formic Pro is a polysaccharide gel strip treatment containing formic acid. It is the only treatment that penetrates the cappings of brood cells to kill the mites reproducing within, and it can be used with honey supers on the hive. 

VarroxSan

Extended-release oxalic acid strips. Kills varroa mites by a sustained and controlled release of the active ingredient, oxalic acid.

Oxalic Acid, Dribble Method

Oxalic Acid Dribble is a mite control method that uses Api-Bioxal mixed with sugar syrup. It kills mites that are riding on adult bees (usually called "phoretic mites"). It is usually applied using a large syringe to dribble the mixture onto the bees that are clustered between the frames. 

Oxalic Acid, Vaporization Method

Oxalic acid vaporization (actually sublimation, not vaporization) is when the oxalic acid is heated until it turns from its solid form (white crystalline powder) into a gas without passing through a liquid stage. As it cools back down, the oxalic acid forms a visible cloud of very tiny, spiky, crystalline, acid dust particles that are deposited all over the interior surfaces in the hive. 

Apivar

Apivar is an amitraz-based treatment against varroa mites. It comes in the form of plastic strips to insert into the brood nest of the hive for a period of 4-6 weeks.