The Pest Management Regulator Agency (PMRA) has granted full registration to Bayvarol®, flumethrin strips indicated for control of Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) in honey bee colonies. Varroa mites prey upon both the adult bee and the developing larva, carry bacteria and viruses and are implicated in significant hive losses.
The Varroa mite originated in Asia, but has since spread towards the West. This parasite now threatens the Western honey bee and is present in almost all hives in North America and Europe. There are currently only a few ways to protect bees from the mite. Using the few effective control products and measures available, combined with good beekeeping practices, it is possible to reduce the mite’s impact on the bee yard. The Varroa population can double every four weeks during the breeding season, which enables it to wipe out eve3n a strong bee colony over the winter, if left untreated.
Treatment is an essential part of maintaining a healthy hive. Of the options available, some have demonstrated variable results. Canadian beekeepers are currently concerned about mites developing resistance to amitraz and thymol and exhibited efficacy rate below 30% when used under fall conditions1.
In 2005 and 2006, Dr. Ernesto Guzman (University of Guelph) and the Ontario Beekeepers Association (OBA) Technology Transfer Program (TTP) tested the efficacy of Bayvarol in Canadian bee colonies. The researchers found that Bayvarol strips controlled more than 95% of the Varroa mites and that there was no resistance to the product, even among colonies demonstrating resistance to fluvalinate. For more information about this research project, please contact OBA TTP at (519) 836-3609 or visit www.ontariobee.com
To treat honey bee hives with Bayvarol, four strips should be distributed per mature brood chamber for a 42-day period. Bayvarol should not be used when honey supers are present. Bayvarol will be available for sale later in 2017 in Canada. For more information about this new treatment, please contact your beekeeping equipment distributor or contact Bayer Animal Health at 1-888-663-5326 or at vetservicescanada@bayer.com
1Al Naggar et al., (2015). Effects of treatments with Apivar® and Thymovar® on V. destructor populations, virus infections and indoor winter survival of Canadian honey bee (apis melifera L.) colonies, Journal of Apicultural Research, 54:5, 548-554,
