Varroa Control
Although varroa is not in itself a disease it is frequently a vector for the transmission of diseases. Varroa still remains the main threat to honey bee colonies in the UK and elsewhere in Europe and effective varroa control is a priority for the bee keeper who wishes to minimize colony loss, especially in the winter. The first effective treatments available to beekeepers in the UK were synthetic pyrethroids. These worked well but the mites began to build up immunity and in most of the UK synthetic pyrethroids are no longer effective. Synthetic pyrethoids also leave residues in the wax which may expose the bees and the mites to a low level dose throughout the year. This may well explain why the varroa mite developed resistance within a few years. Organic acids and thymol have now become the varroa control treatments of choice for most beekeepers in the UK. A treatment of thymol in August or as soon as possible in September will knock back the varroa population significantly.
