Review of new Varroa Management tools: Part 2 of 2

To complete the review of new Varroa mite management tools recently made available to Canadian beekeepers, this week’s blog will discuss oxalic acid based miticides.  Oxalic acid is already a much relied on Varroa Management tool but this season has seen two new options for the delivery of this organic-acid based acaricide.  Having gained some experience of these new options, through both hands-on and anecdotal reports from other beekeepers, we summarize some aspects of their use in this blog.

Review of new Varroa Management tools: Part 2 of 2

Oxalic acid treatments have been proven, through both research¹ and practical reports by beekeepers, as effective in controlling Varroa mites.  This is especially true when used as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy.  There are two new formulations available to Canadian beekeepers for the 2026 season, one being a “homemade” formulation and the second is a commercial strip.  

The 2026 re-registration of oxalic acid dihydrate includes three application methods.  These are the solution (or drizzle) method, vaporizer method and the glycerine strip method.  The glycerine strip method is new for Canadian beekeepers.  There are clear preparation instructions available on the Pesticide Regulatory Directory website: https://pr-rp.hc-sc.gc.ca/1_1/view_label?p_ukid=439350856 . For most beekeepers, making miticide strips is not a practical option.  There are economic benefits if the strips are made on a large scale.  This saving must be balance against the additional complexity of ensuring the strips provide a correct dose of oxalic acid.  There have been some reports from beekeepers of low efficacy which, it was assumed, was due to an improper dose.  With all pesticide application, follow the label directions but with creating oxalic acid glycerine strips, carefully follow the PRA instructions.  

VarroxSan™ is a product which has beekeepers buzzing and has been newly registered for the 2026 beekeeping season.  This treatment is also based on oxalic acid dihydrate but is a commercially prepared product from Vita Bee Health. This has been used by a number of beekeepers in the Maritimes this season and reports are positive.  The flexibility of this treatment, ability to be used with honey supers present, is one great advantage of VarroxSan. 

Treatment costs are somewhat variable, but a pack of 60 strips is between $90 and $100 from beekeeping suppliers.  So each strip is $1.65 at the higher prices.  The application is easy and straightforward.  The long strips fold over frames and are applied at a rate of one strip per 2.5 frames of bees.  This is to a maximum of 4 strips per brood chamber and six strips per hive.  Maximum cost for a strong double colony would be just under $10.  

Once in place the area behind the strip is lost to brood production and the opposite face may be as well.  There are a few reports of brood dying behind the strips, early in the treatment period.  This loss of brood was initially mistaken for disease but after some discussion this was determined to be due to the physical presence of the strip. The bees seem tolerant of the strips otherwise but a couple of incidences of the bees chewing the strips were reported.

At the end of the treatment period the condition of the strips is varied.  There have been some cases of the bees removing the strips which have been found in front of the hive.  Chewing of strips has been reported (as shown in the figure).  A large number of strips became saturated with moisture or described as “mushy”.  Although unlikely to have any reduced efficacy, these “mushy” strips can be more difficult to remove.  

VarroxSan strips at the end of treatment period after chewed by bees (ATTTA©2026)

As an early spring treatment, when honey bee populations are growing, brood space is crucial.  At this time, the loss of space behind the strips is a consideration.  As a mid to late season treatment, this will not be as important.  Using the VarroxSan strips, while honey supers are in place is an excellent option to prevent the growth of mite populations.  This treatment will allow beekeepers to determine the need for and apply further treatments at the point when honey supers are removed.  This will help keep the Varroa mite populations under the 1% infestation threshold!

In summary, oxalic acid is a reliable tool for controlling Varroa mites which now has two additional options for its application.  The glycerine strip method has added complexity and beekeepers are advised to take care when preparing and applying oxalic acid with this type of method.  Monitoring when using all treatments is recommended but with the glycerine strip method it is especially important.  The VarroxSan strips, unlike the glycerine method, can be applied with honey supers.  The impact on honey production, if any, is unknown but as more information accumulates it will be revealed.

Additional monitoring to determine the Varroa populations at the time of honey harvest is still necessary.  At this point a more aggressive treatment may be required to ensure winter bees have an opportunity for optimal longevity and winter survival in a low Varroa/virus environment.

 Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:

visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/

Email attta@perennia.ca

References

1.     Thurston, D., Eccles, L., Kempers, M., Borges, D., Ducsharm, K., Ovinge, L., Stotesbury, D., Scarlett, R., Kozak, P., Petukhova, T. and Guzman-Novoa, E., 2025. Efficacy and Safety of an Oxalic Acid and Glycerin Formulation for Varroa destructor Control in Honey Bee Colonies During Summer in a Northern Climate. Pathogens, 14(8), p.724.

  

Review of new Varroa Management tools: Part 1 of 2

To help with the ongoing battle against Varroa mites, new weapons have been added to the beekeeper’s arsenal.  This season has seen four new miticide products approved for use in Canada.  After these new products have been in the hands of beekeepers for nearly a full season now, ATTTA has received a great deal of feedback from beekeepers on their practical use.  We have also tried them in order to familiarize and inform ourselves on behalf of beekeepers. This week’s blog shares a summary of comments from beekeepers and our own experiences with new amitraz-based formulations.

Review of new Varroa Management tools: Part 1 of 2

The 2026 beekeeping season saw an unprecedented number of new acaricide products become available for Canadian beekeepers.  The Canadian Pesticide Management Directorate (formerly PMRA), approved for use, four new formulations based on already existing chemistries.  These products allow beekeepers new options for the use of two existing active ingredients: oxalic acid and amitraz. After having these new products available for a beekeeping season, some practical aspects of using them have been shared with ATTTA and summarized below.

Amitraz was first used in Canada in 2008 and has been a much relied on miticide in the form of Apivar®.  Across the beekeeping community there are concerns that an overreliance on this single chemical mite treatment will lead to reduced efficacy¹.  Two new applications based on amitraz are now available in the form of Amiflex® and Apivar 2.0®.  Although still the same active ingredient, these formulations may help extend the use of amitraz by providing a greater range of options.

Amiflex gel, by Veta-pharma, is a seven-day flash treatment.  Most beekeepers will purchase the starter pack which contains the applicator, ten 120ml tubes and 400 wooden supports.  The cost from Canadian distributors is approximately $350.  Initially, each 3 ml application cost in the region of $0.88 and two doses are applied per brood chamber.  So, a double brood chamber will be $3.50 for a full treatment. The applicator is very easy to use, as is placing the gel across the wooden supports.  It is important that the gel is not applied directly to the frames to avoid residual amitraz absorbed by the wood.  

Amiflex applicator (ATTTA, 2026)

As suggested by the manufacturer, this product is not designed to be used as a replacement for longer treatments².   Also, the manufacturer suggest that two sequential applications can be used with high mite populations.   The potential for use is limited to specific situations.  It would seem to be a good product for between honey harvests (mid season knock down) and for treating swarms or packaged bees.  Any other broodless periods, such as in the fall, may also be appropriate.  

Overall, beekeepers report this is an easy-to-use product, low cost per dose and will be useful in specific situations.  Also, commercial beekeepers will best be able to take advantage of the purchase quantity and the fact that, once opened, the tubes cannot be stored.  Each tube contains enough for 10 double deep hives so can most efficiently be used by  beekeepers  having 10 hives or more.  Plus, following recommended use of only once per season for amitraz, the package contains more treatment than shelf life for small operations, as it must be used within two years of the date of manufacture.  

It is advantageous that there is no withdraw period before honey supers when using Amiflex.  In use, beekeepers also found variability in the amount of gel remaining on the wooden supports after the seven-day treatment period.  Some colonies removed all the gel while others left a significant amount on the supports.  It could be supposed that this is a reflection of the size of the bee population but the impact of remaining gel after seven days on efficacy is unknown.

Another new product with the same active ingredient, amitraz, has been used by beekeepers this season: Apivar 2.0.  This will eventually replace the original Apivar strips and the expectation is that it will be used similarly.  There are some advantages of this new strip design.  Packaged as paired strips, these are easy to separate which beekeepers have reported as a great improvement.  The dosage is the same as with the old style strips (two strips per brood chamber).  A recent purchase of a large pack cost $200 from one of the Canadian distributers.  This is $3.33 per dose and could be up to $13.32 for a double colony.

Apivar is typically an early spring or fall treatment.  Product availability of Apivar 2.0 meant that beekeepers in the Maritime region did not have access for a spring treatment in 2026.  For next season, one big advantage of Apivar 2.0 over Apivar is the lack of withdraw period after treatment.  With Apivar 2.0 honey supers can be placed immediately after the strips are removed (unlike the two week withdraw period with original Apivar).  This additional two weeks in the early part of the season, to apply treatments prior to placement of honey supers, is meaningful to Maritime beekeepers.

Apivar 2.0 strips (ATTTA,2026)

The new style strips are easy to handle and separation is straightforward.  They are designed for use in either Dadant or Langstroth  equipment.  This dual use design seem to have created a compromise requiring Langstroth users to bend the strips over the top of the frames.  This may be a slight complication in their use, especially with large commercial beekeepers having to place hundreds of strips.

There have been no specific efficacy trials for either of these new products in the Maritime region but in terms of practical use, both are easy to apply.  Any additional options for mite treatments are welcome and will support an IPM strategy. Always read and follow the label instructions. 

Next week’s blog will discuss the new formulations for the application of oxalic acid and their practical use in the Maritime region.

Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:

visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/

Email attta@perennia.ca

References

1.     1. Jack, C.J., Boncristiani, H., Prouty, C., Schmehl, D.R. and Ellis, J.D., 2024. Evaluating the seasonal efficacy of commonly used chemical treatments on Varroa destructor (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) population resurgence in honey bee colonies. Journal of Insect Science, 24(3), p.11.

2.     2. Veto-pharma 2026 https://www.veto-pharma.com/beekeeping-products/amiflex-canada/