Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Varroa mite treatment in Australia starts with knowing whether treatment is needed, choosing the right option for the season and applying it correctly. With Andrew from Australian Bee Supplies, we test a real hive for Varroa, look at treatment timing and brood condition, then apply Bayvarol strips in a Melbourne winter hive.
Varroa mite is now part of Australian beekeeping management, but simply reaching for the same treatment every time isn't a good long-term strategy.
In this video we work through some of the treatment options available to Australian beekeepers and discuss why PPE, correct dosage, label directions, honey supers, seasonal timing and rotating treatments all matter.
Most importantly, we test before treating.
After finding Varroa in the hive, Andrew examines the colony and identifies a brood break. We look at why the amount of capped brood matters when treating Varroa, how mites can remain protected within brood cells, and why the state of the colony should influence treatment decisions.
Andrew then demonstrates the practical application of Bayvarol strips through the brood box and explains treatment records, removal timing and ongoing monitoring.
This video is useful for recreational and commercial beekeepers, small farm owners and anyone trying to understand practical Varroa mite management in Australia. It covers Varroa mite testing, treatment selection, chemical resistance, treatment rotation, brood breaks, honey supers, winter hive management, Bayvarol, Formic Pro, oxalic acid treatments, PPE and responsible honey-bee health management.
Always follow the current product label, permit requirements and applicable beekeeping regulations for your location when selecting or applying a Varroa treatment.
Watch next on Farm Learning:
• How to test a bee hive for Varroa mite using a proper hive inspection and wash youtu.be/9DNjlmlsfwY
• Understanding the Varroa mite lifecycle and why brood matters
• More practical beekeeping and small-farm livestock management on Farm Learning
Subscribe to Farm Learning with Tim Thompson for practical agricultural education from real farms, properties and working agricultural systems.
If you're managing Varroa yourself, tell us what you're finding in your hives and which part of the management process you would like us to explore next.
Share this video with another beekeeper, farmer or landholder working through Varroa management.
Details
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Guest: Andrew, Australian Bee Supplies https://australianbeesupplies.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOootHRtuxxhHGbBwXqC5BQicYKAQtow9gnm5shZibiv3ThJSnZOa
Topic: Varroa mite treatment and management
Treatment demonstrated: Bayvarol strips
Other treatment approaches discussed: Formic Pro and oxalic acid
Key topics: Varroa testing, treatment rotation, chemical resistance, brood breaks, seasonal treatment timing, PPE, honey supers and hive records
#VarroaMite #BeekeepingAustralia #VarroaTreatment #Beekeeping #honeybees
00:00 Why Varroa Treatment Needs a Plan
00:43 Varroa Treatment Options and Chemical Safety
01:58 Why Rotating Varroa Treatments Matters
02:40 Honey Supers and Treatment Restrictions
03:27 Oxalic Acid, PPE and Safe Handling
03:57 Correct Dose and Treatment Planning
04:40 Test for Varroa Before You Treat
05:56 Finding Varroa Mites in the Hive
06:42 Brood Break: Why Treatment Timing Matters
07:50 Applying Bayvarol Strips to the Hive
09:16 Winter Feeding and Treatment Records
10:08 Managing Varroa Through the Seasons
11:04 Varroa Support for Australian Beekeepers
Varroa mite treatment in Australia starts with knowing whether treatment is needed, choosing the right option for the season and applying it correctly. With Andrew from Australian Bee Supplies, we test a real hive for Varroa, look at treatment timing and brood condition, then apply Bayvarol strips in a Melbourne winter hive.
Varroa mite is now part of Australian beekeeping management, but simply reaching for the same treatment every time isn't a good long-term strategy.
In this video we work through some of the treatment options available to Australian beekeepers and discuss why PPE, correct dosage, label directions, honey supers, seasonal timing and rotating treatments all matter.
Most importantly, we test before treating.
After finding Varroa in the hive, Andrew examines the colony and identifies a brood break. We look at why the amount of capped brood matters when treating Varroa, how mites can remain protected within brood cells, and why the state of the colony should influence treatment decisions.
Andrew then demonstrates the practical application of Bayvarol strips through the brood box and explains treatment records, removal timing and ongoing monitoring.
This video is useful for recreational and commercial beekeepers, small farm owners and anyone trying to understand practical Varroa mite management in Australia. It covers Varroa mite testing, treatment selection, chemical resistance, treatment rotation, brood breaks, honey supers, winter hive management, Bayvarol, Formic Pro, oxalic acid treatments, PPE and responsible honey-bee health management.
Always follow the current product label, permit requirements and applicable beekeeping regulations for your location when selecting or applying a Varroa treatment.
Watch next on Farm Learning:
• How to test a bee hive for Varroa mite using a proper hive inspection and wash youtu.be/9DNjlmlsfwY
• Understanding the Varroa mite lifecycle and why brood matters
• More practical beekeeping and small-farm livestock management on Farm Learning
Subscribe to Farm Learning with Tim Thompson for practical agricultural education from real farms, properties and working agricultural systems.
If you're managing Varroa yourself, tell us what you're finding in your hives and which part of the management process you would like us to explore next.
Share this video with another beekeeper, farmer or landholder working through Varroa management.
Details
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Guest: Andrew, Australian Bee Supplies https://australianbeesupplies.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOootHRtuxxhHGbBwXqC5BQicYKAQtow9gnm5shZibiv3ThJSnZOa
Topic: Varroa mite treatment and management
Treatment demonstrated: Bayvarol strips
Other treatment approaches discussed: Formic Pro and oxalic acid
Key topics: Varroa testing, treatment rotation, chemical resistance, brood breaks, seasonal treatment timing, PPE, honey supers and hive records
#VarroaMite #BeekeepingAustralia #VarroaTreatment #Beekeeping #honeybees
00:00 Why Varroa Treatment Needs a Plan
00:43 Varroa Treatment Options and Chemical Safety
01:58 Why Rotating Varroa Treatments Matters
02:40 Honey Supers and Treatment Restrictions
03:27 Oxalic Acid, PPE and Safe Handling
03:57 Correct Dose and Treatment Planning
04:40 Test for Varroa Before You Treat
05:56 Finding Varroa Mites in the Hive
06:42 Brood Break: Why Treatment Timing Matters
07:50 Applying Bayvarol Strips to the Hive
09:16 Winter Feeding and Treatment Records
10:08 Managing Varroa Through the Seasons
11:04 Varroa Support for Australian Beekeepers
