As Australian beekeepers head towards spring, Varroa management is becoming an increasingly important part of preparing colonies for the season ahead.

Warmer weather will soon stimulate brood production across many regions, bringing expanding colonies, increased forage activity and eventually spring honey flows. Unfortunately, increasing brood production also provides Varroa destructor with more opportunities to reproduce.

This year there is another important factor for Australian beekeepers to consider: confirmed resistance to some commonly used synthetic Varroa treatments.

The Spring Weather Outlook

The Bureau of Meteorology's outlook for September to November 2026 indicates warmer-than-average conditions are likely across much of Australia.

Daytime temperatures are likely to be above average across areas south of the tropics, while warmer-than-average overnight temperatures are expected across most of the country.

Rainfall conditions are more varied.

Below-average rainfall is forecast across parts of southern and eastern Australia, including south-eastern Australia and Tasmania, while wetter-than-average conditions are more likely across much of western Australia.

For beekeepers, local conditions will remain particularly important.

Warm temperatures can stimulate earlier colony expansion, but dry conditions may restrict flowering and nectar availability. Colonies can therefore build quickly while natural food resources remain limited.

Check both colony strength and available stores when completing spring inspections.

Where colonies are expanding faster than available forage can support them, supplementary feeding may be required.

View the Bureau of Meteorology long-range forecast

Varroa Resistance Is Now an Important Consideration

One of the most significant developments during 2026 has been the confirmation of Varroa populations resistant to both major groups of synthetic miticides currently used in Australia.

Resistance has now been identified in parts of:

• New South Wales

• Queensland

• Victoria

• South Australia

Affected mites have demonstrated resistance to pyrethroid treatments, including products such as Apistan and Bayvarol, as well as formamidine/amitraz treatments, including Apivar and Apitraz.

Importantly, this does not mean these products have stopped working throughout Australia.

Resistance has been detected in particular mite populations, rather than every Australian apiary. However, it highlights why relying continuously on one active ingredient or treatment type is not a sustainable long-term Varroa strategy.

Australian authorities are encouraging beekeepers to rotate treatment modes of action and monitor mite populations before, during and after treatment.

Read the Australian Government Varroa outbreak and resistance update

Don't Assume a Treatment Worked

Treatment is only one part of Varroa management.

Monitoring is what tells you whether it actually worked.

Beekeepers should monitor mite levels before treatment to establish the infestation level and again after treatment to determine whether mite numbers have been adequately reduced.

Where resistance may be present, authorities also recommend checking colonies during treatment so treatment failure can be identified earlier.

If mite numbers remain unexpectedly high following treatment, don't simply repeat the same chemical treatment.

Treatment failure should be investigated and an alternative mode of action may be required.

Suspected treatment failure can be reported through your relevant state biosecurity authority or the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline – 1800 084 881.

What Varroa Treatments Are Available in Australia?

According to the National Varroa Mite Management Program, Australia currently has eight approved Varroa treatment products.

Non-Synthetic Options

Apiguard – Thymol

A thymol-based treatment that provides Australian beekeepers with a non-synthetic option and a different mode of action from commonly used synthetic strip treatments.

Api-Bioxal – Oxalic Acid

An oxalic-acid-based Varroa treatment. Oxalic acid is particularly useful when little or no capped brood is present because it primarily targets mites on adult bees rather than mites protected inside capped brood.

Aluen CAP – Oxalic Acid

An extended-release oxalic acid treatment that provides another non-synthetic option within an integrated Varroa management programme.

Formic Pro – Formic Acid

A formic-acid-based treatment. One of the characteristics of formic acid is its ability to affect Varroa within capped brood.

Synthetic Options

Australian beekeepers also have access to:

• Apivar – amitraz

• Apitraz – amitraz

• Apistan – tau-fluvalinate

• Bayvarol – flumethrin

With resistance now confirmed to amitraz and pyrethroids in some Australian Varroa populations, treatment rotation and post-treatment monitoring have become particularly important.

Always check the current Australian label or APVMA permit before using any treatment.

See the current Australian Varroa chemical treatment options

Apiguard – A Useful Spring Treatment Option

Spring can provide a particularly useful treatment window for Apiguard, depending on your local temperatures and honey production plans.

Apiguard contains thymol, a naturally occurring compound, and is classified as a non-synthetic Varroa treatment.

Under current Australian directions, Apiguard can be used during spring before honey supers are added, or during autumn after honey supers have been removed.

Temperature is particularly important when using Apiguard.

Temperature Range

Apiguard should not be used when maximum daily temperatures are below 15°C or above 40°C.

Because thymol works through vapour activity within the hive, temperature influences how effectively the product distributes.

This makes the transition from winter into spring a useful time for beekeepers to start watching their local forecast and identifying an appropriate treatment window.

Honey Supers Must Be Removed

Honey supers must be removed before treatment.

Treatment during a honey flow is not recommended because of the potential for honey tainting.

This means treatment needs to be planned before supers are required, rather than waiting until colonies are already producing surplus honey.

How Long Does Treatment Take?

For the standard tray treatment, one opened Apiguard tray is placed centrally above the brood frames.

After two weeks, a second tray is placed alongside the first.

Treatment then continues for a further four weeks, or until supers need to be installed, whichever occurs first.

This treatment period needs to be considered when planning spring colony management.

Read the Australian Apiguard treatment information

Think Beyond a Single Treatment

Australia's emerging resistance situation demonstrates why Varroa management cannot simply become:

"Put the same strips in every year."

Successful long-term management will require an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach.

That means combining monitoring, chemical treatments, non-synthetic treatments and appropriate hive-management techniques.

A basic approach might look like:

Monitor → Assess → Treat when required → Monitor again → Rotate mode of action

Keeping good treatment records is also becoming increasingly valuable.

Record:

• Date of treatment

• Pre-treatment mite count

• Product used

• Active ingredient

• Treatment duration

• Post-treatment mite count

• Colony observations

Over time, these records provide a much clearer picture of which treatments are performing effectively in your apiaries.

Spring Checklist for Australian Beekeepers

As colonies begin their spring build-up:

1. Check colony food stores

Warm weather doesn't automatically mean abundant nectar. Inspect honey and pollen reserves and consider supplementary feeding where required.

2. Monitor Varroa

Don't wait for visibly damaged bees or collapsing colonies. Varroa populations can reach damaging levels well before obvious symptoms appear.

3. Plan treatments before supers go on

Products such as Apiguard require honey supers to be removed, so treatment timing needs to be incorporated into your spring management programme.

4. Rotate treatment modes of action

Avoid repeatedly relying on the same chemical group.

5. Check treatment effectiveness

Monitor again after treatment. A treatment should never simply be assumed to have worked.

6. Watch local temperatures

Temperature-dependent products need suitable conditions to perform effectively and safely.

7. Keep records

Treatment and mite-monitoring records will become increasingly valuable as Australian beekeepers gain experience managing Varroa.

Varroa Management Is Becoming Part of Australian Beekeeping

Australia's relationship with Varroa has changed considerably over the past few years.

The national Transition to Management Program formally concluded in February 2026, but the resources developed through the programme remain available to Australian beekeepers.

The discovery of resistant Varroa populations this year is another reminder that management practices will need to continue evolving.

There is unlikely to be one treatment that provides the answer indefinitely.

Instead, regular monitoring, sensible treatment rotation, good record keeping and Integrated Pest Management will give Australian beekeepers the best opportunity to keep mite populations under control while protecting the effectiveness of available treatments.

Useful Resources

National Varroa Mite Management Program
www.varroa.org.au

Australian Government – Current Varroa Situation
www.outbreak.gov.au/current-outbreaks/varroa-mite

Australian Varroa Chemical Treatment Options
www.varroa.org.au/chemicals

Apiguard Australian Treatment Information
www.varroa.org.au/apiguard

Bureau of Meteorology – Long Range Forecasts
www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/

Always follow the current Australian product label, APVMA permit conditions and relevant state or territory requirements when using Varroa treatments.