Bee Health and Varroa Management

Why are varroa mites such a concern?

Varroa mites live on bees and in brood cells, feed on bees and can spread bee viruses. Untreated colonies often decline, and mite levels can rise quickly in late summer and fall.

Because mites travel between colonies, one keeper's problem can become a neighbor's. Good management protects your bees and the bees nearby.

Ask your state apiary inspector and local club about mite pressure in your area. Mite numbers can climb fast in late summer, when colonies shrink while mite populations are still growing.

How do I monitor mite levels?

Monitoring means counting mites using a method your mentor or extension office teaches, then comparing the count with guidance for your region. Check regularly, since levels change through the season.

Do not guess by looking at the hive. Mites are small, and many colonies with serious infestations look fine until late.

Write down each count and date, so trends are clear. Common teaching methods involve sampling a small cup of bees or checking debris on a board, and your mentor can show which one suits you. Check more often when colonies are large and brood rearing is high, since that is when mites multiply fastest.

How do I decide what to do about mites?

Management options include several approaches, and the right one depends on season, colony strength, temperature and local rules. Some products are regulated, and labels are the law.

Talk with your mentor, extension office or state apiary inspector before choosing a method. Use only products and methods approved for bees where you live, and follow label directions exactly.

Do not use products made for other purposes, and do not improvise. Mistakes can harm bees, contaminate honey and break the law. Timing matters, because some methods work only in certain temperatures or when there is no honey being stored for harvest. Treat all of your colonies in an apiary on a similar schedule when your mentor advises it, since untreated neighbors can reinfest the others.

• Monitor first, then decide
• Ask local experts about timing
• Read and follow labels
• Avoid unapproved products
• Record what you do and the result

What other health problems affect bees?

Bees can suffer from several diseases and pests, including brood diseases and other mites and beetles. Some are reportable, and some can spread from hive to hive.

Learn the signs of healthy brood, with a solid, even pattern. Spotty or oddly colored brood, strange smells or dead larvae need an expert's attention.

Call your state apiary inspector if you see signs you do not recognize. Many offer free inspections and advice. Burying or burning diseased equipment may be required in some cases, so call the inspector before you decide what to do.

How do pesticides and forage affect bee health?

Colonies need diverse forage and clean water. Pesticide exposure can harm bees, so be careful on your own property and talk with neighbors and farmers nearby.

Read labels and follow them. Labels often carry warnings about bees and blooming plants.

Ask your extension office about ways to protect pollinators. Sharing a bloom list with neighbors and asking them to spray in the evening or not at all while plants bloom can protect bees.

How do I prevent spreading problems between hives?

Clean tools between hives, avoid swapping frames without care and do not leave honey or wax where bees can rob. Robbing spreads disease.

Be careful with used equipment. Ask your club or inspector to help you check it before use.

Keep colonies strong, with good food and space. Weak colonies are more at risk. Do not feed bees honey bought from unknown sources, since it can carry disease spores.

Who can help when something goes wrong?

Your state apiary inspector, extension office and local club are your first calls. Beekeepers who have faced similar problems often give practical advice.

Keep records, take clear photos and note what you see. A good description helps experts help you.

Reporting rules for bee diseases vary by state. Ask your state department of agriculture what applies. Beekeeper groups often keep a phone list of people who can come and look at a hive in trouble.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.