Varroa Counter Kit VarroCheck KIT VITA

VarroCheck Kit

To ensure the health of your bee colonies, it is essential to regularly monitor and check varroa levels. If you are unsure how to monitor varroa infestation in your bees, the VarroCheck is the answer. The VarroCheck is an accurate and reliable varroa shaker, ready to use whenever you need to check your bees' health.

Key Features:

• High efficiency, with mites falling through the filter and being easily counted
• Quick and easy to use – monitor your entire apiary in no time!
• Easy to maintain
• Mess-free
• Suitable for CO2, sugar dusting, or alcohol method
• Durable, economical, and long-lasting
• Airtight, with no leakage

What is VarroCheck: Vita recommends regular varroa infestation monitoring. At a minimum, this should be done at the start of the beekeeping season, before, during, and after any varroa treatment. The VarroCheck offers an effective and accurate way to quickly monitor varroa levels in your hive.

How to use VarroCheck:

1. Remove the lid from the bottle and use the measuring cup to add a cup of diluted alcohol (1 part isopropyl alcohol to 4 parts water) to the test bottle.
2. Select two or three frames from the brood area (preferably with open brood) and carefully check for the queen. Do not use the frame if the queen is present.
3. Shake the bees off the frame into a large container and allow the foraging bees to fly away, leaving only nurse bees.
4. Use the measuring cup to collect a full measure of bees (about 300 bees) and place them in the bottle, sealing it tightly.
5. Gently shake the bottle to wet the bees and dislodge the varroa mites.
6. Open the lid and add enough alcohol solution to cover the bees. Close again and gently shake the bottle, avoiding foam formation.
7. After one minute, open the lid and lift the mesh basket, shaking off as much liquid as possible as you lift it.
8. Look through the transparent bottle and count the number of varroa mites. Divide this number by 3 to calculate the infestation percentage (e.g., if you count 6 varroa mites, 6 divided by 3 = 2, so the infestation rate is 2%).
9. Check the acceptable infestation rate depending on the hive's condition and the time of year and take appropriate measures.

Advantages of VarroCheck:

• Economical: durable and long-lasting.
• Effective: quick and accurate infestation rates.
• Simple: versatile and easy to use.

The Kit includes:

• VarroCheck
• Spray
• A CO2 bottle