They parasitic mite, Varroa jacobsoni Oudemans (Acari: Varroidae) commonly know as the Varroa Mite has become a serious pest of honey bees throughout the United States. Varroa mites suck hemolymph from the adults and brood of honey bee workers, drones and queens. Damage is manifested by decreased bee longevity, weight, wax production and an over-all decline in colony strength and vigor.

Adult femal varroa mites are a dark brown and large enough to be detected with the naked eye, measuring form 1.2-1.6mm in width, about the size of a common dog flea. Males are only a fraction of the size of females and are clear of color. Both males and females feed on honey bees with females being the most damaging. Females enter honey bee brood cells 1-2 days before capping and while inside feed on brood and subsequently lay 1 unfertilized and 4-5 fertilized eggs. A male hatches from the unfertilized egg and females hatch form the fertilized eggs. The male mates with mature females before the host bee has emerged form its brood cell.

A common method of sampling for Varroa mites in honey bee colonies is the "ether-roll" technique. Materials needed are a pint glass 'fruit' jar and an aerosol can of ether based starting fluid. Approximately 100 worker bees are scraped into the glass jar from a frame taken from near the middle of a hive needing to be sampled for a varroa mite infestation. A lid is quickly placed on the jar of catured bees and a short burst, about 1 second, of starting fluid is sprayed into the closed container of bees. After 1 minute the jar is gently shook and then rolled. If the bees are infested with varroa the brown mites will be seen stuck to the side of the jar. When mites are found treatment should be considered. Care is taken to apply no chemicals just prior to, or during the honey flow.

Chemical control of varroa mites in honey bee colonies is accomplished with Apistan^TM strips of the miticide/insecticide fluvalinate. It is applied at the rate of two strips per colony for a period of approximately 45 days, prior to honey flow. Apistan is most effective when colonies have little or no brood present (i.e. winter) and has proven to be very reliable in contolling varroa mites. Untreated bee yards generally do not survive more than 1-2 years following a varroa infestation.

There is some evidence that sugar syrup laced with an essential oil, peppermint or spearmint, gives some parasitic mite control. The syrup is formulated by mixing 10-20 drops of either oil with 1 pound of sugar and enough water to fill a quart jar. Theis mixture is given to bees for 30 days in late summer or early fall using a boardman feeder. These treatments should be followed by a spring Apistan^TM treatment.

Texas Agricultural Extension Service - Texas A&M University System, Zerle Carpenter Director
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