Equipment
Browse 14+ equipment for varroa mite management professionals.
Browse by Type
Varomorus OA Vaporizer
Elgon (Varomorus)
The Varomorus is a Lithuanian-made electric oxalic acid vaporizer that has become one of the most popular OA vaporizers among US beekeepers. It uses a 12V DC power source (battery or car adapter) and a fixed heating pan that sublimates OA crystals quickly and efficiently. The design is compact, durable, and well-regarded for reliability. It is widely available through Mann Lake and other US bee supply distributors.
$90 - $130
ApiShield (Subverta) OA Vaporizer
ApiShield
ApiShield (also marketed as Subverta) is a US-based OA vaporizer manufacturer producing units with an adjustable dose basin that allows beekeepers to fine-tune OA crystal quantity per treatment. The stainless steel construction is targeted at commercial operators who treat high volumes of hives. Available in 12V battery-powered and 110V AC versions for different operational needs.
$100 - $180
Lyson OA Vaporizer
Lyson
Lyson is a Polish beekeeping equipment manufacturer producing a range of OA vaporizers and beekeeping tools. Their electric OA vaporizers are popular in Europe and available in the US through specialty bee suppliers. Lyson vaporizers are known for consistent performance and reasonable pricing, making them a common choice for hobbyist beekeepers who want a reliable vaporizer without paying commercial-grade prices.
$70 - $120
ProVap 110 OA Vaporizer
ProVap Systems
The ProVap 110 is a US-made 110V AC electric oxalic acid vaporizer designed for beekeepers who treat near an electrical outlet or use a generator in the apiary. The AC power supply eliminates the need for 12V battery management. It heats quickly and maintains consistent temperature for reliable OA sublimation. The ProVap 110 is particularly popular with hobbyist beekeepers who treat at home apiaries where AC power is accessible.
$80 - $130
Mite Zapper Drone Comb Frame
Mite Zapper
The Mite Zapper is a commercially made green plastic foundation frame built with drone-cell-sized hexagons to encourage bees to raise drone brood throughout the frame. It is designed as a reusable drone comb trap: bees fill the frame with drone brood, the frame is removed when capped, frozen for 48 hours to kill mites and brood, and returned for bees to clean and refill. It is used as a chemical-free supplemental mite management tool in IPM programs.
$15 - $30
Bee Gym Varroa Management Board
Bee Gym
The Bee Gym is a UK-developed grooming board placed on the floor of the hive that provides physical structures designed to encourage bees to groom themselves and each other, mechanically dislodging Varroa mites. Mites knocked off bees fall through the mesh floor. It is used as a supplemental non-chemical element in IPM programs, particularly by beekeepers exploring minimal-chemical approaches.
$20 - $40
Apiguard Thymol Gel Treatment Trays
Vita Bee Health
Apiguard is a slow-release thymol gel produced by Vita Bee Health in the UK and registered for use in the United States. Two 50-gram trays are applied two weeks apart for a complete treatment. Thymol is a naturally occurring essential oil component with acaricidal properties. Apiguard is approved for use in organic operations. It requires ambient temperatures above 59 degrees F (15 C) for adequate volatilization and must not be used when honey supers are present.
$20 - $40
Apivar (Amitraz) Varroa Treatment Strips
Veto-Pharma / Elanco
Apivar is the brand name for amitraz-impregnated plastic strips registered for use in the United States. Two strips per brood box are hung in the brood cluster for 42 to 56 days. The amitraz active ingredient kills phoretic mites through contact as bees move through the hive. Apivar achieves 93 to 99 percent efficacy when used correctly and is the most effective treatment for summer application with brood present.
$15 - $30
MAQS Mite Away Quick Strips (Formic Acid)
Dadant & Sons (US Distributor)
MAQS (Mite Away Quick Strips) are formic acid-impregnated pads applied in pairs across the top bars of the brood box for 7 days. Formic acid vapor penetrates capped brood cells, making MAQS the only treatment that kills mites in capped cells during treatment. It can be used with honey supers present within a specific temperature window (50 to 85 degrees F). NOD Apiary Products manufactures MAQS, distributed in the US by Dadant.
$15 - $28
HopGuard II (Hop Beta Acids)
BetaTec Hop Products / Mann Lake
HopGuard II uses hop beta acids as the active ingredient against Varroa mites and is applied as a strip soaked in the hop beta acid solution placed directly on bees in the brood area. HopGuard II can be used when honey supers are on, which makes it useful during nectar flows when other treatments are restricted. It is OMRI-listed for organic operations. Efficacy is generally considered lower than amitraz or oxalic acid, making it most useful as a supplemental or flow-season treatment.
$15 - $25
Sugar Roll Mite Sampling Kit
Brushy Mountain Bee Farm / Various
The sugar roll is a gentler alternative to the alcohol wash for monitoring Varroa mite loads. Bees are shaken into a jar with powdered sugar, which coats the bees and causes mites to lose grip and fall off. The sugar and mites are then sifted through a mesh screen onto a white surface for counting. Sugar roll kits include a mason jar with a mesh screen lid, powdered sugar, and instructions. The method is less accurate than the alcohol wash but does not require killing the sample bees.
$10 - $25
Alcohol Wash Mite Counting Kit
Various (Mann Lake, Dadant, Brushy Mountain)
Alcohol wash mite counting kits include the essential supplies for performing an alcohol wash mite count: a wide-mouth mason jar or dedicated container with a fine mesh screen lid, measuring tool for a 300-bee sample, and instructions. The beekeeper supplies 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and a white basin for counting. This method is the gold standard for Varroa monitoring accuracy and is recommended by the Honey Bee Health Coalition.
$10 - $30
Varroa EasyCheck Sampling Device (Vita Bee Health)
Vita Bee Health
The Varroa EasyCheck is a dedicated mite monitoring device from Vita Bee Health that functions as an integrated collection and wash container for both alcohol wash and sugar roll mite counts. The device has volume markings for collecting the correct bee sample size (1.5ml mark for approximately 300 bees), a separating mesh lid, and a washing chamber. It simplifies the monitoring procedure and is reusable, making it a convenient tool for beekeepers who monitor regularly.
$15 - $30
Sticky Board Mite Fall Monitor
Various (Dadant, Mann Lake, Brushy Mountain)
Sticky boards are white boards coated with a non-drying adhesive placed below the screened bottom board of a Langstroth hive. Mites that fall from bees during natural fall stick to the board and can be counted after 24 to 72 hours to calculate a natural mite fall rate. Sticky boards measure mites that have already fallen rather than total mite load, so they are less precise than an alcohol wash but useful for trend-watching and post-treatment monitoring between direct counts.
$5 - $20