Varroa Destructor Treatments
General Guidance for Usage
By Fiona Fernie
ABA Education Officer
The APVMA has approved some chemical treatments for Varroa and issued permits for their use. If you follow the permits, you and your bees will benefit. The correct dosage for effective treatment is detailed, and that dosage will not leave residues. Treating with honey supers on or off is specified. Withholding periods are defined and protective equipment is clearly covered.
Therefore, reading the permit thoroughly is essential and keeping clear records is a biosecurity obligation; we all have to adhere to the “new beekeeping norm” in the Varroa Destructor era. Australia tried to keep Varroa out, but beekeepers now have to live with and manage Varroa Destructor.
Some treatments are more straightforward in their application and some require protective equipment when administering the chemicals.
Api-Bioxal sublimation, or vaporization, is one such treatment that requires personal protective equipment when applying the chemical. If you provide yourself with cover-all beesuit/clothing, a half face reusable respirator complete with particulate and acid gas filters, eye protection and chemical gloves, you are fulfilling the requirements of the permit.
Follow the directions on the permit and you will be safe and your bees will be correctly treated.
Api-Bioxal Permit https://permits.apvma.gov.au/PER94609.PDF
Api-Bioxal is one of number of available chemical treatments. If you apply integrated pest management, you have an armoury at your disposal to fight Varroa. Chemicals should not always be your first option and there are limitations to all permitted treatments.
However, care must be taken to understand the risks to beekeepers and to bees. The chemicals would not have been given permits for use in honey bee hives in Australia if they were not safe to use knowing that honey is part of the food chain. Beekeepers produce a quality product in honey and wax, and managing Varroa is becoming essential now that the pest is in Australia. The rest of the world has been treating Varroa for many years.
When it comes to your safety, if you adhere to the conditions of the permit and treat accordingly, then you and your bees will be safe.You cannot cherry-pick the administration of the chemical - follow all of the steps in the permit.
Always remember, you have a toolbox of treatments and use them in rotation, to prevent the mites becoming immune to the chemicals. All of the Varroa workshops have explained the treatments and their timings and usage.
There are many videos and articles on the web – use them with caution, as they may not give advice that is legal in Australia.
www.varroa.org.au will take you to the National Varroa Mite Management for Australia. It is full of correct guidance and information.
www.business.qld.gov.au will take you to the Queensland Varroa Heat Map – the 10KM squares indicate where Varroa has been confirmed.
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au will take you to the NSW Varroa Heat Map.
The AHBIC treatment table is very useful and it will be updated when new information becomes available. It is a QR code at the bottom so that you can download the latest version.
Api-Bioxal vaporization is an effective treatment, in a range of treatments, to combat Varroa Mite infestation, under certain conditions. All of the chemicals can be used under specific conditions, which is why reading the permit is so important. Beekeepers should be cautious and careful when using the treatment, but not frightened.
Please remember, you have options for treating Varroa. Beekeepers should plan, with neighbouring, fellow beekeepers, treatments to reduce re-infestations. Buying chemicals together is a way of reducing the costs and ensuring all beekeepers in an area, treat together.
Record keeping is also important for– knowing when treatments were applied, when they are due to be removed and monitoring their success. It is more work but once all the feral colonies have died out, you may find that you are able to treat by the calendar.
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