Monitor for varroa mite
Monitoring hives gives PIRSA and industry confidence about varroa detections. It protects apiary businesses and associated pollination-dependent industries.
Sampling hives is necessary as varroa mites are difficult to see on adult honey bees – they are found under abdominal segments.
All beekeepers should undertake sampling, regardless of the method used. Monitoring will allow beekeepers to better understand their hives’ development cycle to identify and address biosecurity concerns early.
Beekeepers are encouraged to report all test results using the online hive inspection result form.
If you suspect or positively detect varroa mite through sampling, immediately notify PIRSA.
Monitoring methods
Multiple options are available, including alcohol wash, detergent wash, sugar shake, sticky mats.
We recommend beekeepers sample for varroa mites using the preferred alcohol wash method. This involves:
- about 300 adult bees, including nurse bees
- dislodged material from 2 frames, except for frames with the queen or queen cells.
How to monitor
Beekeepers can monitor for varroa mite using:
- alcohol wash
- soapy water wash
- sugar shake
- drone comb inspection or uncapping
- sticky mats with or without acaricides – an easy install if you have loose bottoms or sliding trays.
Alcohol wash, soapy water wash and sugar shake methods allow beekeepers not only to observe for the presence or absence of mites but also allow assessment of mite load and threshold.
Drone comb uncapping and sticky mats are relatively quick methods to assess presence or absence.
Refer to Monitoring for varroa for videos demonstrating the various methods.
Monitoring rate
| Apiary size | Sample rate |
|---|---|
| Small – fewer than 10 colonies | Monitor all colonies |
| Medium to large – greater than 10 colonies | Sample 10 or more colonies in each apiary |
| Commercial | 10% of each apiary |
Monitoring equipment and submitting suspect samples
Equipment to conduct alcohol washes, soapy water washes and sugar shake can be purchased from physical or online beekeeping equipment suppliers.
If you suspect you have detected varroa mite, then retain the suspect sample and contact the exotic pest plant hotline on 1800 084 881 – they will provide your details to PIRSA Apiary Unit staff who will contact you.
Negative samples do not need to be retained or provided to PIRSA but please report your results using the online hive inspection result form.
You can also drop a suspect sample at a PIRSA office and they will arrange for SARDI testing to allow confirmation.
Beekeepers can pick up free 120 ml sample jars at the following PIRSA offices:
- Clare – 70 Farrell Flat Road
- Glenside – 33 Flemington Street
- Kingscote – Shop 7, The Mall, 56 Dauncey Street
- Loxton – 1801 Bookpurnong Road
- Mount Gambier – 7 Krummel Street
- Murray Bridge – Bremer Road
- Naracoorte – 135 Gordon Street
- Nuriootpa – 571 Research Road
- Port Lincoln – 1 Hindmarsh Street
- Struan – 74 Struan House Road