VarroCheck Varroa Mite Testing Kit

VarroCheck is a simple, accurate, and reusable Varroa mite testing tool designed to help beekeepers measure mite levels before they become a serious problem. Its transparent container and internal filter basket make it easy to separate mites from your bee sample, count them, and calculate your colony’s approximate infestation rate.

It can be used for either an alcohol wash or sugar shake, although we recommend an alcohol wash when an accurate mite count is the priority.

Why Test for Varroa Mites?

One of the biggest mistakes a beekeeper can make is waiting until a colony looks like it has a mite problem.

By the time you see obvious signs of Varroa-related stress, the colony may already be struggling.

Regular testing gives you an actual number to work with, allowing you to make treatment decisions based on what’s happening inside your hive rather than guessing.

We recommend monitoring throughout the season and especially before and after Varroa treatments. Testing beforehand tells you whether intervention is needed, while testing afterward tells you whether your treatment actually worked.

Test. Treat. Verify.

Why We Like VarroCheck

• Quickly measures Varroa mite levels
• Transparent container makes mites easy to see and count
• Internal filter basket separates mites from the bee sample
• Designed for approximately 300-bee samples
• Works with alcohol washes or sugar shakes
• Reusable, durable, and easy to clean
• Compact enough to keep with your regular inspection equipment
• Makes calculating your approximate mite percentage simple

How to Perform an Alcohol Wash

Choose two or three frames from the brood nest, preferably containing open brood, where you’re likely to find plenty of nurse bees.

Most importantly, find the queen first. Never collect your testing sample from a frame containing the queen.

Shake the bees from your selected frame into a clean tub and allow the older foragers to fly away. Collect approximately 300 nurse bees using the included measuring cup and place them into the VarroCheck.

Add your prepared alcohol solution according to the VarroCheck instructions, then gently shake and roll the container to thoroughly wash the sample and dislodge the mites.

After approximately one minute, remove the internal mesh basket. The bees remain inside the basket while the dislodged Varroa mites fall into the clear container below, where they can easily be counted.

Understanding Your Mite Count

With an approximately 300-bee sample, calculating your infestation percentage is easy:

3 mites = approximately 1%
6 mites = approximately 2%
9 mites = approximately 3%

Simply divide the number of mites counted by 3 to estimate the percentage of sampled adult bees carrying mites.

Treatment thresholds can change depending on the season, colony conditions, and local recommendations, so the important thing isn’t simply getting a number. It’s understanding what that number means at that point in your beekeeping season.

Don’t Guess. Test.

A colony can look strong, have a productive queen, and be packed with bees while Varroa populations are quietly increasing.

Regular mite testing allows you to catch that pressure earlier, choose an appropriate treatment when necessary, and then verify that the treatment actually reduced your mite population.

For something that can have such an enormous impact on colony health and winter survival, a mite test only takes a few minutes.

Keep a VarroCheck in your bee kit and make mite monitoring part of your regular colony management.

Know your number. Keep Your Hive Alive. 🐝

Always follow current VarroCheck instructions and local recommendations when monitoring and managing Varroa mites.