Varroa Mite Treatment Schedule for Northern Kentucky
Varroa destructor is the single biggest management challenge for honey beekeepers in Northern Kentucky, and timing is everything. Treat too early and you interfere with honey production. Treat too late and mite loads crash colonies going into winter. Here's how we schedule Varroa management at our apiary in ZIP 41018.
Three Treatment Windows
Our management runs on three windows aligned to the colony's annual cycle:
1. Post-Main-Flow Treatment — August
After the Tulip Poplar and summer flows wind down — typically early August — we do an alcohol wash on all colonies. If counts reach 2–3 mites per 100 bees, we treat immediately with Apivar (amitraz strips). This is the most important treatment of the year: the bees raised in August and September are the winter bees, and they need to emerge into a low-mite environment.
Timing: First week of August, after pulling honey supers.
2. Fall Oxalic Acid — October–November
After Apivar strips are removed (typically 6–8 weeks later), we do a follow-up wash in October. If the colony has gone into a broodless or low-brood period — common in November in zone 6 — we apply a single oxalic acid treatment by dribble or vapor to knock down remaining mites with nowhere to hide.
Timing: Late October through mid-November, ideally when overnight temps are consistently below 50°F.
3. Late Winter Oxalic Acid — February
In late February, when colonies are still relatively broodless but beginning to build up, a single vaporized oxalic acid treatment resets mite loads before spring brood rearing accelerates. This complements, but doesn't replace, the fall window.
Timing: Mid-to-late February, before the first Maple flow begins.
Our Quick Reference Calendar
| Month | Action |
|---|---|
| February | Oxalic acid vapor (broodless window) |
| May–July | Monitor only; no treatments while supers are on |
| August | Alcohol wash; treat if ≥2 mites/100 bees (Apivar) |
| October | Follow-up wash; oxalic acid if broodless |
| November | Oxalic acid (late broodless window if needed) |
Monitoring Is Non-Negotiable
No treatment schedule replaces regular mite counts. We check at minimum: before and after each treatment window, once during peak brood season (June), and before the winter cluster forms (October). A count of 3+ mites per 100 bees at any point is an emergency — don't wait for the next scheduled window.
For the full seasonal management calendar including splits, feeding, and harvest timing, see the Apiary Calendar.