Apivar vs Apiguard: Amitraz Strips or Thymol Gel?
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Apivar and Apiguard are two of the most popular varroa mite treatments, and they work in very different ways. Apivar is a plastic strip that slowly releases the synthetic miticide amitraz over six to eight weeks, and it works in cool weather. Apiguard is a thymol gel that evaporates through the hive, and it needs warm days to work. As a rule of thumb, choose Apivar for spring or cool fall treatments, and Apiguard for a warm late summer, ideally alternating the two to slow resistance. Neither can be used with honey supers on.
Apivar vs Apiguard at a glance
| Apivar | Apiguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Amitraz (synthetic) | Thymol (from thyme oil) |
| Form | Slow-release polymer strips | Slow-release gel in 50 g trays |
| How it reaches mites | Contact: bees walk on the strips | Contact and vapor |
| Where it goes | Hung between brood frames | Tray on top of the brood frames |
| Dose | One strip per 5 frames of bees, up to 2 per brood box | Two trays, two weeks apart |
| Treatment length | 42 days; remove by 56 days | 4–6 weeks in total |
| Temperature | No range set on label | Daily highs 60–105 °F |
| Honey supers | Not with supers on; wait 14 days after removal to super | Not with supers on; supers can go on once treatment ends |
| Kills mites in capped brood? | No, but long release catches mites as they emerge | No, but vapor persists for weeks |
| Uses per year | No more than 2 | Per label |
| Resistance | Some signs of mite resistance after years of amitraz use | No known varroa resistance to thymol |
| Hive visits | Two: insert, then remove | Three: first tray, second tray, clean-up |
Sources: the EPA-approved product labels and the Honey Bee Health Coalition’s Tools for Varroa Management. Labels are updated from time to time, so always follow the one that comes with your product. The label is the law.
The two products
1. Apivar 2.0 Amitraz Strips (best for cool-weather and low-effort treatment)
Apivar uses amitraz, a synthetic miticide, in controlled-release polymer strips. This pack holds 4 strips. You hang them between the brood frames, where the bees walk over them and spread the active ingredient through the colony, and the number of strips depends on colony size, as set out on the label.
Because it works by contact rather than evaporation, Apivar does not depend on warm weather the way thymol does. It is a good choice for spring before supers go on, or for fall after the harvest. Follow the EPA-approved label for placement, timing and removal. It is also the less work of the two, with one visit to hang the strips and one to take them out.
- Good: Works in cool weather; only two hive visits; steady slow release
- Watch for: No honey supers during treatment, plus a wait before supering. Rotate with other actives, as some mites have shown resistance to amitraz.
2. Apiguard Thymol Gel (best for warm late-summer treatment and rotation)
Apiguard, made by Vita Bee Health, is a slow-release thymol gel. This box holds 10 ready-to-use 50 g trays. You peel back the lid and place the tray gel-side up on top of the brood frames, and the thymol spreads through the hive over the following weeks. Leave space above the tray so the bees can reach it.
The label dose is two trays per hive, used in sequence, so a box treats five colonies. Thymol is plant-derived, which makes Apiguard a natural rotation partner for Apivar. The maker says it also helps against tracheal mites and chalkbrood. Follow the label for timing and temperature. Many beekeepers use it after the summer harvest.
- Good: Plant-derived active; simple trays; ideal for rotating with amitraz
- Watch for: Needs warm days to work and cannot be used with honey supers on. May cause bearding and slow egg laying in hot weather.
How they work
Apivar: amitraz on a strip
Amitraz paralyzes varroa mites so they lose their grip on the bees. The strips release it slowly, and bees pick it up as they walk over the strip surface and pass it around the colony. Apivar gives no quick knockdown; mites drop steadily over the whole treatment. Because the treatment runs six weeks or more, it covers several brood cycles and catches mites as they come out of capped cells.
The strips must sit in the brood nest, where the bees are. If the cluster moves away, as it can in fall, the label tells you to move the strips back into the cluster and leave them 14 more days, but never beyond 56 days in total.
Apiguard: thymol by evaporation
Thymol is the main aromatic compound in thyme oil. Apiguard’s gel controls how fast it is released. Bees also move the gel around the hive as they try to clean it away, which spreads the thymol by contact. The amount of vapor depends on heat, which is why Apiguard needs warm weather: in cool weather too little thymol evaporates to kill mites, and in extreme heat too much can upset the colony.
The tray needs about 1/4 in of space above it. Most beekeepers add an empty super or a shim above the brood box for the treatment period, and the HBHC guide advises closing a screened bottom board so the vapor stays in.
Applying them: label basics
- Apivar. Remove honey supers first. Open the pack only when you are ready, separate the double strip, and hang each strip between two frames in the brood nest, at least two frames apart, so bees can walk on both sides. Note the date, and remove the strips after 42 days (56 at most). Never reuse strips.
- Apiguard. Remove honey supers first. Peel back the foil, leaving one corner attached, and set the tray gel-side up in the center of the top bars. Add an empty super or shim for space and close the hive. After two weeks, replace it with a fresh tray, and leave that one until it is empty or supers are due, whichever comes first.
Temperature: the biggest practical difference
Apiguard’s label says not to use it when the day’s maximum temperature is below 60 °F (about 15 °C) or above 105 °F (about 40 °C), or when the colony is not very active. That rules it out for cold springs and late fall in much of the country. At higher temperatures, above 77 °F, the label allows a smaller dose in some pack sizes.
Apivar’s label sets no temperature range, and it works by contact rather than evaporation, so cool weather does not stop it. That makes it the more dependable choice for an early spring treatment or a late fall treatment in a northern climate, as long as the bees stay in contact with the strips.
Effect on the colony
- Apiguard. The label says it does not harm brood or adults when used as directed. In practice, the HBHC guide notes it may reduce the queen’s egg laying for a while, may increase the loss of young larvae, and can make bees beard outside in hot weather. Thymol also irritates human skin, so wear gloves.
- Apivar. The HBHC guide describes it as safe for bees when used as labeled. It also guide notes that amitraz residues can be detected in beeswax and honey, which is one reason it is kept off supers.
Both products carry protective equipment rules on the label, including chemical-resistant gloves. Read them before you open the pack.
Honey supers and timing
Neither product can be used with honey supers on. The difference is what happens afterwards:
- Apivar needs 42 to 56 days in the hive, plus a 14-day wait after removal before supers go on. In spring that is roughly eight to ten weeks, so start early enough to finish before your main flow. The label also says to remove strips two weeks before the honey flow starts.
- Apiguard takes four to six weeks, and surplus honey supers can go on as soon as treatment ends and the gel is removed. Do not treat during a honey flow.
If mites climb while your supers are on, neither is the right tool. Look at a treatment labeled for use with supers, such as formic acid or hop beta acids, in our guide to the best varroa mite treatments.
Resistance
This is where Apiguard has an edge. The HBHC guide lists no known varroa resistance to thymol, while it reports some signs of mite resistance to amitraz where it has been used for several seasons. That does not make Apivar a poor choice; it is still highly effective in most places. It does mean you should not rely on it alone. The Apivar label limits use to twice a year and recommends rotating with treatments that have a different mode of action.
The simplest way to protect both products is to alternate them, for example Apivar in spring and Apiguard after the summer harvest, with an oxalic acid treatment when the colony is broodless in winter. Always test afterwards: a high mite count after a full, correctly applied treatment is a warning sign worth reporting to your state apiarist. See obtaining and assessing a varroa mite count.
Cost and effort
Apivar is the less work of the two: open the hive to hang the strips, then again six to eight weeks later to remove them. Apiguard needs a visit for each tray and a final clean-up, plus an empty super or shim on every hive during treatment. A box of 10 Apiguard trays treats five hives at the standard two-tray dose; how many hives a pack of Apivar strips covers depends on colony size, since the label rate is one strip per five frames of bees.
Which should you choose?
| Situation | Better choice |
|---|---|
| Early spring, cool weather, supers still weeks away | Apivar |
| Late summer after harvest, days reliably 60 °F or warmer | Apiguard (or Apivar) |
| Late fall in a cold climate | Apivar |
| You used amitraz last time | Apiguard, to rotate actives |
| Heat waves above 105 °F | Apivar (Apiguard is off-label) |
| You want the fewest hive visits | Apivar |
| Honey supers on | Neither; use a product labeled for supers |
Whichever you pick, test for mites first. Treatment makes sense only when the count is above the threshold for the season. To understand what is at stake, read how varroa mites affect honeybee colonies.
Frequently asked questions
Is Apivar or Apiguard more effective?
The HBHC guide lists registrant-reported effectiveness of up to 95% for Apivar and 74–95% for Apiguard, with Apiguard more effective in warmer temperatures. In practice, the one used at the right time, in the right weather, will beat the other used at the wrong time. Test afterwards to be sure.
Can I use Apivar and Apiguard together?
Do not use them at the same time. Stacking treatments is not on either label and adds stress to the colony. Use them in different seasons instead, which also helps slow resistance.
Does Apiguard kill mites in capped brood?
No. Thymol vapor does not reliably reach mites under the cappings, and neither does Apivar. Both rely on a long treatment period to catch mites as they emerge. Formic acid is the treatment that works under cappings.
Is Apiguard organic or natural?
Thymol is naturally derived from thyme, so Apiguard is often called a “soft” treatment. It is still an EPA-registered pesticide with a DANGER label for eye damage, so wear gloves and eye protection and follow the label.
How long after Apivar can I add honey supers?
The label says to wait 14 days after removing the strips before placing honey supers on the hive. With Apiguard, you can add supers as soon as the treatment ends and the gel is removed.
For more on colony health, see our bee care guides.
