Fall Varroa Management: Testing, Treating, and Timing It Right

Let’s be honest—testing for Varroa mites isn’t exactly fun. If you’ve ever thought, I give up. I’ll just treat anyway! you’re not alone. Testing can feel intimidating, time-consuming, and inconvenient, especially when you’re juggling late-season management. But here’s the truth: testing is essential, and knowing exactly when and how to treat is what sets successful beekeepers apart.

Why Timing Matters

In early fall, colonies may appear calm and healthy, but Varroa pressure can still be dangerously high. As brood levels start to drop, the mites shift from reproducing inside capped brood cells to clinging directly to adult bees (phoretic mites). This is when testing becomes especially important—and when treatment can be most effective if handled correctly.

Best Practices for Testing Varroa Mites

Alcohol Wash: The Gold Standard

The alcohol wash is widely considered the most accurate quick-test method for checking Varroa mite loads. The most convenient tool for this test is the Varroa EasyCheck, a self-contained wash jar with a built-in strainer basket that simplifies the process. Just add 91% rubbing alcohol or a Dawn dish soap solution (1–2 tablespoons per gallon of water), along with the bees. If you don’t have an EasyCheck jar, a quart mason jar will work too—though it can be a bit messier without the inner basket.

Steps:

1.      Pull a brood frame covered with bees.

2.      Confirm the queen is NOT on the frame.

3.      Shake bees onto newspaper or in a tub—collect 300 bees (about ½ cup).

4.      Place bees in the jar, and add rubbing alcohol or soapy water (to fill line in the container).

5.      Swirl around for 1 minute, then count mites that settle at the bottom.

6.      Treatment threshold: more than 6 mites (2 per 100 bees) = time to treat.

As you can see, the mites are clearly visible at the bottom of this EasyCheck container. Count them to determine your mite load.

If you’re under the threshold, great! Retest in 4 weeks to monitor.

Sugar Roll: Gentler but Less Accurate

If killing bees during testing isn’t ideal for you, the sugar roll method is a gentler (though less reliable) alternative.

What You’ll Need:

• Varroa EasyCheck or pint jar with #8 hardware cloth lid
• Powdered sugar (3 Tbsp.)
• 300 bees (same collection method as above)

Process:

1.      Shake bees in container to coat them in sugar.

2.      Let sit 2 minutes in the sun.

3.      Shake again, then invert the jar and shake sugar (and mites) onto a flat surface.

4.      Count mites. The same 6-mite threshold applies.

Tip: Shake sugar and mites onto a plate with a thin layer of water—the sugar dissolves, and mites are easier to see.

Just know sugar doesn’t knock all the mites off, so results can vary.

Photo Credit: Nanette Davis

Sticky Board: Easiest, Least Reliable

The sticky board test is growing in popularity because it’s quick and noninvasive. However, it offers only a rough snapshot of mite activity—not a precise count.

Screen bottom board:

1.      Slide sticky board beneath screen.

2.      Count mites after 24 hours—no more, no less

3.      More than 9 mites? Treat.

Solid bottom board:

1.      Use sticky trap with screen on top.

2.      Follow the same 24-hour process.

Waiting more than 24 hours will invalidate your test results.

How Many Hives Should You Test?

Varroa spreads easily through foraging, drifting bees, and robbing. That means mite loads tend to be similar across hives in the same apiary. But don’t rely on assumptions—test enough hives to get a good read.

Here’s a practical, field-tested guideline:

• 1–3 hives: Test all of them
• 4–20 hives: Test at least 4
• 20–50 hives: Test 5
• 51+ hives: Test 5–10% of hives

Not scientific—but it’s realistic and effective.

Fall Varroa Treatment Options

Once you’ve tested and confirmed that treatment is needed, here’s what works best during the population decline phase (late summer to early fall). These are directly pulled from the Honey Bee Health Coalition’s Varroa Guide (pg. 14) with some context added:

Highly Effective Treatments

• Apivar® – Apply only after honey supers are removed.
• MAQS®, Formic Pro® – Fast-acting, penetrates capped brood. Temperature-sensitive (daytime temps not exceeding 85 degrees).
• Apiguard®, Thymovar®, ApiLife Var® – Thymol-based; not suitable for hot temps.
• HopGuard® III – Natural product with varying efficacy.

 Always check product labels for temperature ranges and brood conditions before using.

Moderately Effective

• Requeening with hygienic stock – Effective, but queens not widely available this time of year
• Making splits – Can work, but risky this late in the year
• Oxalic acid – Effective only when brood is minimal or absent.

 Least Effective (Fall Phase)

• Apistan®/CheckMite+® – Resistance is widespread.
• Drone brood removal – Most colonies stop raising drones in fall.
• Screened bottom boards – Help with general sanitation, not treatment.
• Basic sanitation practices – Good for long-term hive health but won’t solve mite pressure alone.

Managing Varroa mites in the fall is all about timing, testing, and action. Treating without testing is risky—it may be too much or not enough. Testing without follow-up treatment can be just as harmful. The best approach is to know your mite levels and choose a treatment that fits what your hive is going through at the time.