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Bee health, varroa control and feeding

Mite testers, EPA-registered varroa treatments, oxalic acid vaporizers, feeders, pollen substitutes, mouse guards, beetle traps and hive monitors.

Mite threshold calculatorVarroa treatment guideHow to do an alcohol washBest varroa treatmentsApivar vs Formic ProBest feeders
Varroa mite riding on a white honey bee pupa in an opened brood cell
Photo: Gilles San Martin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr
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Varroa mite threshold calculatorTurn an alcohol wash or sugar roll count into mites per 100 bees and check it against the Honey Bee Health…

Bee health starts with a mite count

Bee health in a backyard apiary mostly comes down to varroa mites, food and keeping pests out. This category lists mite test jars, EPA-registered varroa treatments, oxalic acid vaporizers, syrup feeders, pollen substitutes, mouse guards, entrance reducers, small hive beetle traps and simple monitors such as hanging scales and wireless thermometers.

Test before you treat. The Honey Bee Health Coalition (HBHC) Tools for Varroa Management, 9th edition recommends sampling about 300 adult bees (about ½ cup) from the brood nest with an alcohol or soap wash and comparing mites per 100 bees with the threshold for the colony's phase.

Varroa thresholds by colony phase (mites per 100 adult bees), HBHC 9th edition

Colony phaseImmediate control not neededPromptly 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.

Varroa mite threshold calculatorEnter your mite count and sample size to see mites per 100 bees against the HBHC 9th-edition threshold.

EPA-registered varroa treatments we list

Only pesticides registered by the EPA for use in beehives are legal varroa treatments, and the label is the law: it sets the dose, the temperature range, the treatment period and whether honey supers may be on. Check any product against the EPA list of registered varroa products and read the label before you buy.

Registered treatments in the Hive & Frame catalogue

ProductActive ingredientHoney supers (HBHC 9th ed.)Listed detail
Formic ProFormic acid✓ Allowed per label50–85°F daytime highs per label (listing shows 84°F); 14-day or 20-day option; EPA Reg. No. 75710-3
VarroxSanOxalic acid dihydrate~ Allowed if separated from supers by one chamberStrips for 42–56 days; EPA Reg. No. 94413-3
Apivar / Apivar 2.0Amitraz✗ No supers on6–8 week strip period; EPA Reg. No. 87243-1 (Apivar)
ApiguardThymol gel✗ No supers onTwo 50 g trays per colony as listed

Source: HBHC Tools for Varroa Management, 9th ed.; product listings; VarroxSan label

Registered oxalic acid products for dribble or vaporization, such as Api-Bioxal and EZ-OX, are usually sold through bee-supply dealers. The vaporizers in this category (OXALIKA, Scott Bee Farm, InstantVap, Varomorus) are only devices: use them only with a registered oxalic acid product whose label allows vaporization, and wear the goggles or face shield and respirator HBHC calls for with every oxalic acid method. Our vaporization vs dribble comparison explains when each fits.

Wood bleach is not a varroa treatmentOxalic acid sold as wood bleach, deck cleaner or “for bees” crystals without an EPA registration number is not a registered hive pesticide, and homemade dosing is off-label use. Hive & Frame does not list it or give recipes.Source: EPA advisory on substances used to control varroa mites

Feeding, pests and monitoring

  • Feeders: entrance feeders (mason-jar style) are cheap but invite robbing; top feeders (Apimaye, NUOMIC 1.2 gal) and frame feeders (BeeCastle 3.5 L) hold more and sit inside the hive. Compare them in best beehive feeders.
  • Protein: pollen substitutes and patties help when natural pollen is short in early spring. New colonies from packages usually need syrup at first; see your first hive.
  • Screened bottom boards: a tray under the screen catches falling mites for a rough trend check; boards are listed under frames and foundation.
  • Mouse guards and reducers: stainless or galvanized guards go on in fall; see winter prep.
  • Small hive beetle traps: reusable oil traps hang between frames, mostly needed in warm, humid regions.
  • Monitors: a hanging scale lets you heft-check winter stores; Wi-Fi or RF thermometers log temperature and humidity. See hive monitoring on a budget.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Treating on a calendar without a count, or trusting the old 8th-edition “3%” rule. The 9th edition (June 11, 2026) uses 1% (dormant, population increase) and 2% (peak, population decrease).
  • Using a product with supers on when its label says otherwise.
  • Using the same active ingredient every time; HBHC advises rotating modes of action.
  • Moving frames from a colony with suspected American foulbrood. Stop, close the hive and contact your state apiarist first; see hive problems.

Read before you buy

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Best beehive feeders: top, frame and entrance feeders

The best beehive feeder for new colonies and fall feeding: top vs frame vs entrance feeders, capacity, drowning and…

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Best varroa mite treatments (EPA-registered) by season

The best varroa mite treatment is EPA-registered and fits your colony's phase: HBHC 9th-edition thresholds, supers,…

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Best oxalic acid vaporizers: pan, wand and cordless

The best oxalic acid vaporizer for your apiary: pan vs pot designs, 12V, 110V and cordless power by specs, plus the…

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Hive monitoring on a budget: sensors, scales and mite tests

Hive monitoring without a dedicated system: general temperature sensors, hanging scales and mite testers as honest…

Versus

Oxalic acid vaporization vs dribble: label rules compared

Oxalic acid vaporization vs dribble by the EPA label: doses, respirators, broodless timing per HBHC 9th edition, the…

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Apivar vs Formic Pro: varroa treatments compared by label

Apivar vs Formic Pro by EPA label: amitraz vs formic acid, temperature limits, honey super rules, treatment length,…

Bee health & feeding: questions

What is the varroa mite threshold for treatment?
Under the HBHC 9th edition (June 2026), prompt control is advised at 1 or more mites per 100 bees in the dormant and population-increase phases, and 2 or more during peak population and population decrease.
What is the best varroa treatment?
There is no single best one: the right EPA-registered product depends on the colony phase, temperature and whether supers are on. Our best varroa mite treatments page sorts them by those conditions.
Can you treat for mites with honey supers on?
Only with a product whose label allows it. In our catalogue, Formic Pro is labeled for use with supers on; Apivar and Apiguard are not.
Is oxalic acid legal for treating bees?
Yes, when it is an EPA-registered product such as Api-Bioxal, EZ-OX or VarroxSan, used exactly per its label. Hardware-store oxalic acid is not a registered hive treatment.
Sugar shake or alcohol wash?
HBHC recommends the alcohol or soap wash as the more reliable method. A sugar roll returns the bees alive; confirm with a wash if the result is close to the threshold. See how to do an alcohol wash.
What should you do if you suspect American foulbrood?
Do not move frames or equipment. American foulbrood is reportable in many states, so contact your state apiarist or apiary inspector before taking any other step.