Apivar
Apivar 2.0 Strips (12) + Varroa Easy Check
- Active ingredient
- Amitraz
- Doses
- 12 strips
- Includes
- Varroa Easy Check tester
Best for Counting and treating mites
Brand
Apivar amitraz strips for varroa mites
Apivar sells EPA-registered amitraz strips for varroa mites, in 4- and 12-strip packs and as Apivar 2.0, some bundled with a Varroa Easy Check tester.
See Apivar on Amazon
Apivar
Apivar 2.0 Strips (4) + Varroa Easy Check
- Active ingredient
- Amitraz
- Doses
- 4 strips
- Includes
- Varroa Easy Check tester
Best for One or two backyard hives
Apivar
Apivar 2.0 Amitraz Varroa Strips, 12 Strips x 2
- Active ingredient
- Amitraz
- Doses
- 2 packs of 12 strips
Best for Treating several colonies
Apivar
Apivar Strips (4) + Varroa Easy Check
- Active ingredient
- Amitraz
- Doses
- 4 strips
- EPA Reg. No.
- 87243-1
Best for Starting mite control on 1–2 hives
Apivar
Apivar Strips (12) + Varroa Easy Check
- Active ingredient
- Amitraz
- Doses
- 12 strips
- EPA Reg. No.
- 87243-1
Best for Treating a small apiary
No product matches every filter.
What Apivar sells
Apivar is an EPA-registered varroa treatment: plastic strips that release amitraz and hang between brood frames. Our catalogue lists the original Apivar with EPA Reg. No. 87243-1 and the newer Apivar 2.0. The label is the law, so read it in full before you buy: it sets strips per colony, placement, treatment period and when honey supers may be on.
- Apivar strips: 4- and 12-strip packs bundled with a Varroa Easy Check tester; the listings give a 6–8 week treatment period and use up to two times a year.
- Apivar 2.0: 4 or 12 strips with a Varroa Easy Check, and a 2 x 12 strip pack. The EPA Reg. No. is not listed in our catalogue entry for 2.0; check it on the label or the EPA list.
Apivar packs by listed spec
| Product | Active ingredient | EPA Reg. No. | Doses | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apivar Strips (4) + Varroa Easy Check | Amitraz | 87243-1 | 4 strips | — |
| Apivar Strips (12) + Varroa Easy Check | Amitraz | 87243-1 | 12 strips | — |
| Apivar 2.0 Strips (4) + Varroa Easy Check | Amitraz | — | 4 strips | Varroa Easy Check tester |
| Apivar 2.0 Strips (12) + Varroa Easy Check | Amitraz | — | 12 strips | Varroa Easy Check tester |
| Apivar 2.0 Amitraz Varroa Strips, 12 Strips x 2 | Amitraz | — | 2 packs of 12 strips | — |
Specs as listed by the maker or seller; check the listing before you buy.
Test first, and no honey supersIn the Honey Bee Health Coalition's product tables, Apivar is a no-supers treatment, so it fits before or after the honey flow. Count mites before treating and again after the treatment period to confirm it worked. Wear the protective equipment the label lists.Source: HBHC Tools for Varroa Management, 9th edition
When does Apivar make sense?
HBHC's 9th edition (June 2026) says to promptly control mites at 1% or more (1 mite per 100 bees) in the dormant and population-increase phases, and at 2% or more at peak population and during population decrease. Measure with an alcohol or soap wash of about 300 bees, then check the result in our mite threshold calculator.
Varroa thresholds by colony phase (mites per 100 adult bees), HBHC 9th edition
| Colony phase | Immediate control not needed | Promptly control |
|---|---|---|
| Dormant Little or no brood; winter cluster (sample just before clustering) | ✓ below 1% | ✗ 1% or more |
| Population increase Late winter to spring build-up, brood expanding | ✓ below 1% | ✗ 1% or more |
| Peak population Summer, colony at full size, supers often on | ✓ below 2% | ✗ 2% or more |
| Population decrease Late summer to fall, brood rearing slowing | ✓ below 2% | ✗ 2% or more |
Source: Honey Bee Health Coalition, Tools for Varroa Management, 9th edition (June 11, 2026), Table 1. Thresholds can vary by region; ask your state apiarist.
HBHC also recommends rotating between products with different modes of action so mites are less likely to become resistant to any one of them.
How Apivar compares with other registered treatments
Formic Pro (formic acid, EPA Reg. No. 75710-3) allows supers on, and its label calls for daytime highs of 50 to 85°F on the day of application (some listings print 84°F). Apiguard (thymol gel) is temperature-dependent and, like Apivar, a no-supers product in HBHC's tables. VarroxSan (oxalic acid strips, EPA Reg. No. 94413-3) lists spring, summer and fall use, and its label permits the extended-release method with honey supers on. Check each label and the EPA list of registered varroa products.
Formic Pro
Formic Pro Formic Acid Varroa Strips, 2 Doses
- Active ingredient
- Formic acid
- Doses
- 2 doses
- Use season
- 50–85°F; supers allowed per label
Best for One backyard colony
Apiguard
Apiguard Thymol Gel Varroa Treatment, 10 x 50 g
- Active ingredient
- Thymol (gel)
- Doses
- 10 trays of 50 g
- Use
- 2 trays per colony
Best for Thymol-based varroa treatment
Varroxsan
VarroxSan Oxalic Acid Varroa Strips, 60 Strips
- Active ingredient
- Oxalic acid dihydrate
- Doses
- 60 strips
- Use season
- Spring, summer and fall; 42–56 days
Best for Long-release oxalic acid strips
Where Apivar appears on Hive & Frame
Apivar: questions
Is Apivar EPA-registered?
Yes. The original Apivar strips list EPA Reg. No. 87243-1. For Apivar 2.0, read the registration number on the label or look it up on the EPA list.
Can you use Apivar with honey supers on?
HBHC lists Apivar as a treatment for colonies without honey supers. Follow the product label, which is the legal instruction.
How long do Apivar strips stay in the hive?
The listings give a 6–8 week treatment period. The label sets the exact timing and removal.
What is the active ingredient in Apivar?
Amitraz.
How many mites before you treat with Apivar?
Under HBHC's 9th edition, 1 or more mites per 100 bees in the dormant and increase phases, and 2 or more at peak and during decrease, call for prompt control.
Why do Apivar bundles include a Varroa Easy Check?
So you can count mites before and after treating. A wash count tells you whether treatment is needed and whether it worked.