VarroaMate is designed to complement and strengthen national and state Varroa management strategies — supporting the Australian beekeeping community in doing their part to protect colonies, reduce mite loads, and maintain healthy apiaries across the country.
Australian beekeepers now face one of their greatest challenges — Varroa is established and spreading, and the decisions made in the next few years will shape the future of beekeeping across the country. VarroaMate's mission is to give every beekeeper the best possible tools, information, and guidance to protect their colonies, manage mite loads effectively, and help save Australia's bees.
VarroaMate is under ongoing development and welcomes your feedback.
Please read carefully before continuing
VarroaMate is designed to complement and support national and state Varroa management strategies — helping beekeepers monitor mite loads, time treatments, and contribute to a coordinated national response.
Australian beekeepers now face one of their greatest challenges. Varroa is established and spreading, threatening both managed hives and wild bee populations. VarroaMate's mission is to support beekeepers as effectively as possible — with timely guidance, treatment information, and mite tracking tools — to help them protect their colonies and do their part in saving Australia's bees.
No liability is accepted for accuracy of information or recommendations. All recommendations represent one of several possible paths of action. Beekeepers are solely responsible for treatment decisions. No liability for damage to hives, bees, honey, or loss of data.
Information is provided in good faith but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Data may be used for research and marketing purposes.
Varroa is a notifiable pest across all Australian states and territories. All positive detections must be reported promptly to your state or territory agriculture authority. Contact details and reporting requirements are available from your state authority's website — VarroaMate's Guidance tab provides a direct link for your registered state.
Visit your state agriculture department for current treatment and reporting requirements. The National Varroa Mite Management Program (varroa.org.au) has archived resources from the national response.
Beekeeping is best done in community. Your local bee club is one of the most valuable resources available — for mentorship, shared experience, and staying up to date with the Varroa situation in your area. If you are not already a member, we strongly encourage you to join a bee club near you.
These two settings personalise every recommendation VarroaMate gives you. You can change them at any time.
Treatment products registered for use with Varroa vary by state and territory — a product available in NSW may not be registered in WA. Your state also determines which biosecurity reporting requirements apply to you. Selecting the correct state ensures VarroaMate shows only treatments you can legally use, and links you to the right reporting authority.
Data current as of January 2026 — always verify with your state authority.
Beekeepers take different approaches to Varroa treatment — from integrated chemical programmes to entirely organic or mechanical methods. Selecting your philosophy means the AI guidance, treatment suggestions, and seasonal alerts are tailored to your approach, not just generic advice. There is no single right answer — the best strategy is the one you will consistently apply.
3 apiaries · 8 hives total
There are three main methods for detecting Varroa mites. VarroaMate records alcohol wash only — it gives the most accurate and consistent mite count and is the gold standard for monitoring and reporting.
Wash approximately 300 bees (½ cup) in alcohol — kills bees but dislodges and counts mites accurately. The only method accepted for biosecurity reporting in most states. Results are expressed as mites per 300 bees.
Coat bees in icing sugar and shake over a white surface. Non-lethal but less accurate — mites cling to bees and not all are dislodged. Useful for a quick field check but undercounts by up to 40–60% compared to alcohol wash. Not used for VarroaMate counts.
Uncap drone brood and inspect for mites in cells. Mites preferentially reproduce in drone brood so this can detect early infestations, but cannot be expressed as a standardised count per 300 bees. Not used for VarroaMate counts.
AI-powered varroa management advice
Choose the plan that fits your apiary
VarroaMate is currently developing solutions that suit the management, monitoring and reporting requirements of very large beekeeping operations — including multi-user access, bulk hive management, and integration with national reporting systems.
We can also produce individual solutions for a single business — a custom design built around the specific needs of your operation, from hive tracking at scale to treatment planning and compliance reporting. If you run a beekeeping business and want to explore how VarroaMate can support your Varroa management, we'd love to hear from you.
📩 Contact us to explore optionsTwo features in development for paid plans:
The AI reads your real hive data — mite counts, treatment history, season, apiary location — and generates personalised advice rather than fixed rules. It answers free-form questions through the chat (e.g. "can I treat during a honey flow?") and adjusts recommendations based on your treatment preference profile.