The rigid Apivar® strips release just the right amount of active substance where it is needed, when it is needed.
The manufacturing process used to produce these strips guarantees that just the right amount of active miticide, Amitraz, is released when and where it is needed. Slow-release Apivar® treatment contains just the right amount of product to eliminate varroa mites without any risk of toxicity for the bees or any danger of residues accumulating in hive products. The active substance is released simply when the bees come into contact with the strip.
Toxic for mites but safe for your beeswax, queens and respectful for your hive products.
Apivar® leaves the bee, honey and wax and all other hive-derived products unaffected.
Studies have proven that under normal conditions and use Apivar® is harmless for the bee and for all products made in the hive. Investigations designed to detect residues of active substance in honey, wax, propolis and pollen have shown that you may harvest these products immediately after the end of the treatment period, no withdrawal time being necessary.
Thanks to the progressive and measured release of the active substance from the unique Apivar® formulation, your hive is healthy and its products are free from contamination.
Moreover after successive Apivar® treatments for several years, no accumulation of Amitraz residues can be noticed even in wax.
Reproductive cycle of the varroa mite in the worker bee brood cell
Egg laid by the queen
The brood cell is open.
8 days after laying (5 bee larva steps further)
A fecundated female varroa mite enters the cell 15 hours before its capping.
9 days after laying
The cell is sealed with wax cap, the fecundated female varroa mite enclosed within the cell feeds on haemolymph from the larva.
10 – 11 days after laying
The female varroa mite lays an egg every 30 hours: the first is a male and the following are females.
12 – 20 days after laying
The female varroa mite goes on laying an egg every 30 hours. As soon as sexual maturity is reached (5-6 days). Females are fecundated by the male in the cell.
21 days after laying
The young bee leaves the cell but is carrying 2 female fecundated varroa mites. The immature varroa mites and the male remain within the cell.