Apivar Strips
Apivar is a synthetic varroa mite treatment beekeepers use to help control the varroa mite population inside the bee hive. Apivar is applied inside the colony by placing plastic strips between frames where bees are exposed to the active ingredient Amitraz.
One of the best features of Apivar is that it can be used during the heat of the summer when many other mite treatments require special consideration. An apivar treatment is most often used during the summer in the six-week period after the honey flow. This is usually July and August for most beekeeping areas in the Northern Hemisphere.
2 strips are typically used per hive. A 4 pack will be enough to treat 2 colonies. A 12-pack is enough to treat 6 colonies. A 60 pack will be enough to treat 30 colonies.
Full beekeeping pest control line
It is important to harvest honey and remove your honey super or supers from the colony before the treatment period. There should not be any honey for human consumption in the hive when the apivar strip is added. The main benefit of using the apivar package during the summer is the varroa mite population will be low when the bees are raising winter bees during the fall. Apivar is not designed to be used during the honey season when honey boxes are present.
Apivar is safe for bees and deadly for Varroa Mites and has proven to produce healthy and productive hives without leaving significant residues in the comb. It's important to follow package directions when applying Apivar in the brood box. The strips are designed to be used on deep brood frames but can also be used on medium frames. Apivar is one of the preferred varroa treatments by most commercial beekeepers and works very well when there is a brood present.
Apivar should only be used when your mite levels are above the threshold where beekeeper interference is needed to help the colony. You can check for mite levels using a product called a Varroa Check which is very helpful for checking mite levels when considering a mite treatment.
The shelf life of Api Var is 2 years from its manufacture date. At Foxhound Bee Company, we do not receive the product immediately after it is manufactured, but typically have a shelf life on our products of 18+months.
Apivar should not be used when there is any honey in the hive that is to be consumed by people. Any honey in the hive should be left for the bees to eat during the year. It does not matter what size boxes are used on the hive, only that the remaining boxes receiving the treatment only contain brood and honey for the bees.
Apivar is not an organic treatment for varroa mites but is synthetic with the active chemical ingredient Amitraz. Apivar is not toxic to bees or humans when used according to the package directions. Apiguard is an organic acid treatment that uses Essential Oils and works very well for killing varroa mites.
Apivar is best used during the spring, summer, and fall when bees are most active and honey boxes are not in the hive. Apivar can be used during the winter in subtropical or tropical environments. Apivar works through contact with the adult bees when they touch the strips, so it's important the colony is active. Formic Pro is a popular mite treatment that works during the spring and fall in cooler temperatures and can be used with honey boxes on the hive.
See our entire collection of Synthetic, Organic, and Physical Varroa Mite Treatments.
Apiguard is a popular alternative to Apivar that can be used during the spring, summer, and fall.
From The Manufacturer
• Amitraz, an acaricide, is the active ingredient in Apivar strips.
• Apivar® is packaged in vacuum-sealed foil pouches. A single application of two strips per brood chamber is sufficient to treat a hive, so you spend less time and effort treating your bees, and there is less disruption of the bees than with many other treatments.
• Strips are not individually wrapped and must be used within 2 weeks after opening.
• This active ingredient is delivered to the honey bees via the polymer strip, which is specially designed to constantly deliver the active ingredient via the surface of the strip after it is placed in the hive.
Apivar works by direct contact with bees:
The active ingredient is delivered continuously over time. As bees walk on the strip’s surface, they pick up molecules of the active ingredient and then distribute them throughout the colony.
Apivar has been subject to a variety of stringent regulatory studies and evaluations and its high effectiveness was proven by various scientific trials in different countries, with a constant efficacy between 97 and 99% for more than 10 years.*
Directions for using Apivar:
See the Apivar Instruction Sheet in the product images
1. Remove honey supers before application of Apivar.
2. Use 2 Apivar strips per brood chamber (i.e., one strip per 5 Frames of Bees - FoB).
3. Separate the double strip and hang each strip between two comb frames inside the brood area or the bee cluster, with a minimum distance of 2 frames between strips.
4. Suspend Apivar strips in the heart of the brood (not on the edge) in such a way that the bees can walk on both sides of the strips.
5. Leave strips inside the hive for 42 days, and then remove.
In case of movement inside the beehive far from the strips, reposition the strips into the bee cluster, and leave the strips in place for 14 more days.
Strips must be removed after a maximum of 56 days. DO NOT reuse the strips.
When To Use Apivar:
If Varroa mite infestations have reached the treatment threshold, hang Apivar strips in the hives in the spring, summer, and/or fall.
Treat all of your colonies in the apiary simultaneously to avoid re-infestation.
Withholding period for honey collection:
Wait 14 days after removing strips before placing honey supers on the hive. DO NOT USE APIVAR STRIPS WHEN HONEY SUPERS ARE PRESENT. If mite infestation reaches treatment thresholds in the fall, remove surplus honey supers before using Apivar.
See our entire collection of Synthetic, Organic, and Physical Varroa Mite Treatments.
Full beekeeping pest control line
Watch our video for a Step By Step On How To Use Apivar Strips In a Hive; Make Sure You Put Them In The Right Spot.
