Accurate sampling in the field is the foundation of effective varroa management. Without reliable data on mite levels, every treatment decision is guesswork—risking either wasted effort or colonies lost to rising infestations. By tracking varroa consistently, beekeepers gain the visibility needed to catch problems early, compare results across yards, and build a record that guides smarter decisions year after year. While this guide offers a clear protocol to follow, our general rule is simple: more data is always better. The more you sample, the stronger and more reliable your management decisions become. That’s why we built this guide—to give you a practical framework you can adapt to the scale and needs of your own operation.

1. Choose a consistent sampling method (alcohol wash, sugar roll, or bottom board) and stick to it.

• Why it matters: Switching between sampling methods (e.g., alcohol wash vs. sugar roll) can make it difficult to compare data across time or locations because each method has different sensitivity levels.
• Best practice:
  • Choose one sampling method for your operation and stick with it for the season.
  • Use the same number of bees per sample (commonly 300 bees).
  • Train all field workers on the chosen method to ensure results are consistent and reliable.
• Result:
  • Comparable, trustworthy data that accurately reflects mite trends.

2. Sample at least 10% of hives before treatment begins

• Why it matters: Establishing baseline mite levels before treatment is the only way to measure whether your interventions are actually working. By sampling around 10% of your colonies before each treatment cycle—in both spring and fall—you generate a data set large enough to be statistically meaningful, but still manageable for crews in the field.
• Best practice:
  • Sample 10% of colonies before treatment (in spring)
  • Repeat the same in fall.
  • Use these two seasonal checkpoints to build your long-term baseline.
  • For best results, increase to 20% hives sampled.
• Result:
  • Confirms whether treatments are effective in the two most important periods.
  • Builds a seasonal baseline for decision-making.

3. Sample at least 10% of hives 1–2 weeks after each round of treatment – but do not prioritize returning to the same hives 

• Why it matters: Most beekeepers assume that returning to the same hives builds more statistical consistency, but at Nectar, while we do recommend hive-level sampling, we do not prioritize returning to the same hives.

  The reason is that, by sampling a random subset of colonies each round, managers gradually build a higher percentage of hives that have been checked during the season. This gives a broader and more representative view of mite pressure across all yards, instead of concentrating data in just a few hives. Sometimes the same hive will be re-sampled by chance, which is useful for spotting clusters of infection. But the main goal is to expand coverage. Repeating this process over time creates a rolling dataset that shows both the overall mite situation and how treatments are working—without requiring every single colony to be tested. 

• Best practice: 
  • Sample a different subset of colonies each round instead of always returning to the same hives.
  • Aim to cover a higher percentage of hives across the season while allowing some to be re-sampled naturally.
  • Focus on broad coverage across yards rather than perfect repetition at the hive level.
  • For best results, increase to 20% hives sampled.
• Result:
  • Builds a more representative picture of mite levels across your entire operation.
  • Helps identify high-pressure yards or clusters of infection without overcommitting resources.
  • Provides a more accurate overview of mite pressure and treatment efficacy over time.

4. Record every treatment

• Why it matters:
  Treatment history is essential for measuring product effectiveness, avoiding over-treatment, and preventing resistance. A clear record helps ensure treatments are completed as planned, and on time.
• Best practice:
  • Always log treatments during yard or hive inspections.
  • Include product name, application method, and dosage.
  • After treatment, schedule a follow-up mite sample to measure results.
• Result:
  • A complete treatment record that supports better decisions and compliance with regulatory requirements.

5. Use data to identify high risk yards with mite counts above threshold and prioritize immediate treatment.

• Why it matters: High mite loads can lead to rapid colony decline—intervening early prevents broader losses across the operation.
• Best practice:
  • Use your tracking system to spot mite counts above your treatment threshold (often 3–5 mites per 100 bees, depending on your region and management style).
  • Prioritize these yards for immediate treatment.
  • Consider sampling neighboring hives in the same yard to assess spread.
• Result:
  • Early detection of mite rebounds, leading to faster intervention

6. Optimize dosage volume and the number of rounds.

• Why it matters: Executing unnecessary treatments can be costly, time intensive, damaging for bees. Fine-tuning dosage and frequency helps you balance maximum efficacy against unnecessary cost or colony stress.
• Action steps:
  1. Compare different regimens—for example, six versus eight OA rounds.
  2. Measure whether additional applications drive further reductions.
• Result: 
  • Treat your hives more precisely, avoid unnecessary interventions, and protect colonies more effectively throughout the season. 

How Nectar Supports Mite Monitoring

While these best practices can be followed with any record-keeping system, Nectar has developed tools designed specifically to make them easier at scale.

• Field Data Collection: The Nectar mobile app includes features like the Varroa Slider for quickly logging mite counts during hive inspections, ensuring consistent and standardized data collection.

• Analysis in the Portal: The Manager’s Portal aggregates data at the hive, yard, and operation levels, so you can compare the latest samples, 30-day averages, and overall trends. You can also see the percentage of hives sampled in a yard.

Three reports from Nectar’s Insights dashboard: The current varroa average across the operation, the average varroa rate per yard, and the rate of hives sampled with the average varroa rate over the last two months. 

Take Aways 

Ultimately, the goal of digital mite tracking is to build a 360° view of mite exposure—not just where mites are. Digital platforms can help by linking mite counts to treatment records and generating pre- and post-treatment reports. Over multiple seasons, this kind of data reveals which products, timings, and dosages work best in your operation. The aim is to move away from one-size-fits-all blanket treatments and toward yard- or hive-specific approaches that save time, resources, and bees.