New miticide product approvals this season brought some relief for beekeepers with additional options to help with integrated pest management strategies for the control of Varroa mites. This availability of new tools against Varroa have been of benefit but, at the same time, some cautionary tales have emerged.
Caution! New Miticide Products.
Not in recent memory, have there been this number of Varroa
management products registered for use in Canada in a single season. It has
been some time since new chemical acaricides have been registered. For context,
Apivar® was registered nearly 20 years ago (2008). So, it has been a while since beekeepers have
tried new chemical treatments. There is
a learning curve to ensure familiarization with new products but also some
points to consider, generally, when using new treatments.
Online comments and discussions amongst beekeepers, sharing their
experience and questions about new products, can be a positive and supportive
process for the beekeeping community. At
the same time, not all information in these types of discussion is of equal
validity. Recently in the United States, there has been online suggestion that
colony losses or abscondment is linked to the application of Apivar 2.0. There has been some discussion in Canada, as
we become familiar with this new product, but less so than south of the border. The manufacturer
has very responsibly addressed concerns expressed by beekeepers in the United
States and Canada. The statement
released from Veto-pharma can be read in full online (5 October) https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1551039830161323&set=pcb.1551039903494649
There are a couple of things to know. Beekeepers should report to the manufacturer,
as stated on the label, any suspected toxic effects on honey bees of any
product. This reporting to the
manufacturer must be in turn, by law, shared with Health Canada. There are good resources about the reporting requirements
available online. Just have a search in
the usual ways for, “Report a Pesticide Incident” or follow the link listed
below. The Health Canada definition of a
pesticide incident is, “… a negative effect (adverse reaction) to humans,
animals (pets or livestock) or the environment (plants or wildlife) that can
result from being exposed to a pesticide.”
Additionally, support with a pesticide incident can be provided by your
provincial apiculturist or reach out to ATTTA.
During the process of familiarization with new miticide
products this season, there are some commonsense practices that are worth remembering.
Any new product should be used with caution.
In the case of Apivar 2.0, it could be easily assumed that it will work
just as the original Apivar as it has the same active ingredient
(amitraz). This is not the case. For example, Apivar 2.0 has a quicker release with a larger initial
mite drop. This indicates a higher level
of exposure to the active ingredient early in the treatment period.
Read and understand the label instructions. Miticide products are designed to work most
effectively when applied according to the manufacturer’s direction. Not only will the products be less effective,
but poor application can also lead to resistance of the target pest to the
active ingredient.
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| Apivar 2.0 (Image: Veto-pharma 2026) |
Any new management practice should be trialled on a limited
number of colonies initially. This
ensures that any unforeseen adverse effects of the change can be
identified. This practice applies to new
pest management products. The
registration of products does provide some assurance that they are generally
safe for use. This registration process
does not consider unique aspects of your colonies. As the beekeeper you need to take into
account hive configurations especially ventilation, apiary locations and local
weather conditions. It has been stated
by Veto-pharma that reported challenges in the use of Apivar 2.0 in the US
could be attributed to unique circumstances of climate and conditions.
Monitor hives after application to check that the colony is
tolerant of any new treatment.
Monitoring for any signs of toxicity or unusual behavioural changes in
honey bees receiving a new treatment is recommended. Monitor mite populations to confirm efficacy
especially with new products.
Challenges with familiarity of new products was exemplified
by ATTTA’s own experience. When
initially using the Apivar 2.0, the strip division was not obvious. It took some detailed exploration to identify
where and how the strips needed to be separated. This oversight could easily result in inadvertently
double dosing colonies. From listening
to other beekeepers and reading the manufacturers statement, this was not a
unique situation. The strips are paired
and need separation out of the package with one strip applied per five frames
of bees. The product label has all the details.
Any concerns of the use of Apivar 2.0 or other new products
will be, alleviated in part, through ongoing familiarity. We should not forget that the original Apivar
is still registered for use in Canada.
Beekeepers should discuss with their supplier if they want to ensure
that this product is still available in preparation for spring treatments. Veto-pharma has committed to work with
suppliers and beekeepers to ensure availability.
In conclusion, beekeepers are reminded not to assume that
because a product is approved for use it will be compatible with your colonies,
location and application practices. Proceed
with caution and ensure that all decisions are based on available and credible information.
Pesticide Incident Reporting
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