Why record keeping is crucial for varroa mite detection 

Record keeping is one of the most important processes in beekeeping all beekeepers must apply. Beekeepers must maintain records of biosecurity-related actions and observations they encountered during hive inspections. In order to maintain biosecurity, it is crucial to keep meticulous records of your beekeeping activities. This will make it simpler to identify the source of any disease outbreaks or pest incursions, such as the recent discovery of varroa in the nation.

In this video, Dr. Mark Goodwin walks us through how to keep a beekeeping record:

There are many synthetic and natural methods used in the treatment and prevention of varroa mites.

Synthetic varroa treatments can be used to eliminate mites in your hives, but it pays to be careful as mites can develop resistance to chemicals over time, making them harder to get rid of in future. You also need to be careful in applying synthetic treatments to avoid contaminating honey.

Watch here on how to do synthetic varroa treatments:

In this video, Trevor from Trev’s Bees shows us the process of using Apitraz in varroa treatments:

You can also control the spread of varroa using the drone dropping method:

The Varroa Destructor is a very serious threat not to bees but to the entire beekeeping and food production industry. Because it has such fast and a wide-ranging impact, your active participation is important in fighting this problem. Ecrotek is here to help you every step of the way.

We know that swift detection and treatment of Varroa Mites is crucial in saving your colony, which is why Ecrotek has been at the forefront of varroa control in NZ for many years. As we navigate this evolving threat in Australia, we'll continue to bring you up to date information including what a varroa mite is, what to look for and why good hive record keeping is super important.

Please see our current Varroa products here

Varroa Mite Series 
Learn more about Varroa Mites in our special 4-part series.

Part 1: What is a Varroa Mite and what does it look like?

Part 2: What do beekeepers need to look out for in their hives?