Branded Varroa Treatments
Thymol
Brand names include Apiguard, Api Life Var and Thymovar. Readily available from the beekeepers suppliers. There is not any awareness of mite resistance but because of the temperature dependency the efficacy can be variable.
MAQS
Currently (2024) there seem to be supply issues with MAQS.
Has had VMD Marketing Authorisation since Feb 2013. It contains Formic Acid in two strips which are placed above the brood box (between brood boxes in brood and a half and double brood) and below the supers. The Formic acid penetrates the cappings and kills mites within the cell and does not taint the honey so supers can be left on during treatment. The hive should be well ventilated and the ambient temperature below 25'C
Formic Pro
Replacement for MAQS. Contains same ingredients but supers must be removed. The treatment period is 20 days.
Oxalic Acid
Api-Bioxal - A formulation of Oxalic Acid recently approved by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Oxalic acid acts by contact with varroa mites on adult bees.It is thought to dsmage the mouthparts and the adhesive parts of the foot lobes. It does not penetrate capped brood so must only be used when the colony is brood-less. This is usually in winter but could be on a swarm before there is brood. Efficacy said to be in excess of 90%. It should only be used once per year and at the recommended dose and concentration. It is supplied in sachets which need to be diluted with sugar syrup to give a concentration of 4.2% Alternatively the acid can be sublimated/vapourised using special equipment.
Oxybee - Recently licensed. Solution lasts for 12 months in fridge when mixed.
Oxuvar - Available for trickling or spraying.
Pyrethroid strips
Brand names Apistan and Bayvarol. These were the first miticides produced.
Apistan is still availble. However, there is a significant degree of mite resistance to pyrethroids so they are not currently recommended (2024)
Amitraz strips
Brand names Apivar and Apitraz. Recently licensed. Can be bought from suppliers. Highly effective.
The above is not an exhaustive list of all varroa treatments or all brand names.
ALWAYS READ ALL DIRECTIONS VERY CAREFULLY AND FOLLOW PRECISELY.
