Varroa Treatments Around the World: What New Zealand Can and Can't Use
Twenty-five years of living with the mite, the tools we have, and the ones used elsewhere that aren't on our shelves.
New Zealand has managed Varroa destructor since 2000, so we are not new to this the way Australia is. That experience is worth a lot, but it also means our mites have had a long time to develop resistance, and it means the rest of the world has a slightly different toolbox. This page lays out what New Zealand keepers can legally use, what's used overseas that we can't, and the reasons hives still die even when they're treated. It sits alongside monitoring and the treatment guide.
Why hives still die, even when treated
- Resistance is already here. Resistance to the pyrethroid strips, Apistan in particular, is now widespread across much of New Zealand. If a treatment isn't dropping your counts, resistance is a prime suspect, which is why a wash before and after every treatment matters.
- Reinvasion. Robbing bees carry mites home from collapsing hives nearby. You can treat perfectly and be reloaded within weeks. Varroa is an area problem.
- Treating too late, or skipping the after-check. Treat on the count, not the calendar, and always re-wash to confirm it worked.
What New Zealand keepers can use
- Amitraz strips: Apivar and Apitraz, the mainstay for many keepers.
- Pyrethroid strips: Bayvarol and Apistan, effective only where mites aren't resistant, and Apistan resistance is now common here.
- Organic acids and oils: Formic Pro (formic acid, reaches mites under the cappings), oxalic acid (own-use, best in a broodless window), and Apiguard (thymol).
One genuine advantage we have: New Zealand lets beekeepers prepare their own extended-release oxalic acid (oxalic and glycerin on strips), a method still restricted in some countries. Follow the own-use rules and get the dose right.
Used overseas, not on our shelves
| Method | Used in | In NZ? | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hop beta acids (HopGuard) | US, Canada, parts of Europe | Not registered | A soft, food-derived option for phoretic mites. No NZ registration. |
| Coumaphos (CheckMite+) — organophosphate | US and others | Not registered | Leaves fat-soluble residues in wax and carries handling risk. |
| Thermal (hyperthermia) | Europe | No chemical, but rare here | Heating the hive to kill mites. Hard to source and easy to cook brood. |
| Raw amitraz / home mixes | Illegally, in several countries | Illegal | Never do this. Inconsistent dosing, heavy residues, and it speeds up resistance. |
| Lithium chloride | Research stage | Experimental | Promising in the lab, not registered anywhere. One to watch. |
The free tactics anyone can use
- Drone brood removal in spring: mites prefer drone cells, so cutting out capped drone comb removes them physically.
- Brood breaks (caging the queen or splitting) open a window where oxalic acid hits nearly every mite.
- Resistant stock: requeen with hygienic lines as they become available.
- Area coordination: the biggest lever against reinvasion. Treat in the same windows as your neighbours.
Track every wash and treatment, with rotation and re-check reminders.
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General information for New Zealand beekeepers, current as of 2026. Not veterinary advice; always follow product labels and ACVM rules.