New Options in the Toolbox: 2026 Varroa Treatments
This season brings four NEW options for managing varroa.
The good news: more tools.
The catch: they rely on familiar actives – oxalic acid and amitraz.
Even so, these products open up different treatment windows, application methods, and price points, which helps with rotation and fitting treatments into real-world operations. Used properly, these additions give more flexibility to manage mites across the season especially where timing, labour, or honey flow constraints have made control challenging.
The following table only lists newly registered products and label updates for varroa control.
| Treatment/ Product | Active Ingredient | Use w/honey supers on | Key New Advantage* | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apivar 2.0 | Amitraz | 𝗫 | No waiting period needed prior to supering; longer duration of treatment | 42-70 days |
| Amiflex | Amitraz | 𝗫 | Flash; No waiting period needed prior to supering. | 7 days (single appl.) ⎮ 14 days (consecutive appl.) |
| Varroxsan | Oxalic acid | ✔︎ | Consistency; Treat with honey supers on | 42-56 days |
| OA DIY | Oxalic acid | ✔ | Low cost; Treat with honey supers on | 42 days |
| * New advantages are contingent upon following the label. | ||||
For a concise list of ALL options, including directions for use, the 2026 Manitoba Honey Bee Treatment Guide prepared by Provincial Apiarist Derek Micholson, remains a go-to reference. It’s worth keeping a printed copy in the shop or truck.
To make things easier, I’ve also linked the official product labels below from Health Canada so you can check rates, placement, and use conditions directly on the label:
Source of labels: https://pr-rp.hc-sc.gc.ca/ls-re/index-eng.php
Video resources on new varroa control methods:
Amiflex, Apivar 2.0, Varroxsan: CAN-BTTPs/CHC/Véto Pharma Webinar
Oxalic acid DIY method: Oxalic Acid Glycerin in Canada: Efficacy, Expectations, and IPM Fit
