Apiguard

In June 2003 Apiguard, manufactured by Vita (Europe) Ltd, was formally

registered as a veterinary medicine to control varroa. It is based on thymol,

formulated in a gel base. It is supplied packaged in shallow foil trays

about 75 mm. square with peel-off lids. It is important that the manufacturers

instructions are followed.

These notes are intended to help you maximise its benefits.

Experimental trials carried in mainland Europe have shown Apiguard to have an efficacy of between

74% and 99%. As it works against pyrethroid resistant mites it has been widely used in continental Europe

following the discovery of such resistance there.

In use, a tray is opened and is placed on the top bars of the hive. Bees must have free access to the tray,

so generally it will be necessary to place a shallow eke or empty super under the crown board to make

sure that bees can gain easy access to the tray. Bees seem to find Apiguard repellent so they enter the tray

and remove the gel from the colony. In doing so they spread the active ingredient around the hive

where it is thought to act both by contact and evaporation. Usually it takes several days for the tray to be

emptied. A second tray is normally applied after 14 days.

An important point to bear in mind is that the efficacy of Apiguard in controlling varroa is best at over 15°C.

Below this temperature it continues to have a beneficial effect, but is less effective. Therefore it is best used

before the weather gets cold in autumn. If the temperature is consistently higher than 25°C then the dose should be halved.

One question often asked is what happens when you use Apiguard in conjunction with an open mesh floor rather

than a conventional solid floor? At the moment it is impossible to give a reliable answer as no data exist. However as

thymol vapour is heavier than air it would seem prudent to close off an open mesh floor whilst treatment is in progress.

Inserting the monitoring tray or just putting some sheet material under the floor could do this.

With an efficacy of between 74% & 99% Apiguard may not always be sufficient when used alone as a single

annual treatment. It is however ideal for use as part of an integrated approach as illustrated in the diagram below.

This does look complicated but in most uses the likely actions are highlighted in bold lines. The other control

methods shown would probably only be used if there was an invasion of mites from elsewhere.

Flow chart for probable use of Apiguard in an Integrated Varroa Management programme.

March Late June August November

Open Mesh Floor [Close Floor}

N.B. Mite drop figures refer to the average drop per day.

Details of 1PM, monitoring varroa mites and the other control methods are available in the CSL/DEFRA leaflet

‘Managing Varroa’, the handout ‘1PM & Varroa’ and books on varroa control.

For beekeepers who live in areas where pyrethroid resistant varroa mites have not yet been identified

it would appear prudent for those relying on pyrethroid treatments i.e. Apistan and Bayvarol, to alternate

these with a control such as Apiguard. This would slow the spread of resistance, thus maintaining the efficacy

of pyrethroids for longer.

Apiguard is also sold in buckets. The registration does not apply to this package. Please ensure that the instructions

are followed and be especially careful to regulate the dose correctly.