How to Use Formic Acid to Treat Varroa Mites

This video shows when and how to apply formic acid to control varroa mites.

The only legal formic acid product in the United States is Mite Away Quick Strips (or MAQS), a biodegradable gel strip of 46.7 percent formic acid. In Canada, both MAQS and 65 percent formic acid liquid are legally permitted. Formic acid be a useful tool for reducing varroa mite populations within an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. Always read the product label to make sure you are applying the product safely and correctly, and always resample after treatment to confirm that the treatment worked.

This is the sixth in a series of short videos from the Honey Bee Health Coalition on how to manage varroa mites successfully.

Why should you effectively manage varroa mites in your honey bee colonies? Every honey bee colony in North America either has varroa mites or will in just a few months. When colonies are not treated, or are treated ineffectively, they weaken and may be more susceptible to other negative factors, such as pesticide damage, virus infections, and other maladies. Failure to control mites endangers not only your colonies but also colonies in other apiaries and feral honey bees in your area. Widespread colony deaths can cause major economic damage for beekeepers and harm essential agricultural pollination services.

Whether you have a few colonies or you manage large apiaries, these videos show practical steps you can use to better control varroa mites.

LINKS:
The Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
More varroa resources: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/v...