Editing Varroa destructor (section)

===Chemical measures===
[[File:Beecrystals.PNG|thumb|Honey bee coated with [[oxalic acid]] to protect it from mites]]
Varroa mites can be treated with commercially available [[acaricide]]s that must be timed carefully to minimize the contamination of [[honey]] that might be consumed by humans. The four most common synthetic pesticides used for mite treatments with formulations specific for honey bee colony use are [[amitraz]], [[coumaphos]], and two [[pyrethroids]], [[flumethrin]] and [[tau-fluvalinate]], while naturally occurring compounds include [[formic acid]], [[oxalic acid]], essential oils such as [[thymol]] and beta acids from [[hops]] resin (e.g. [[lupulone]]). Many of these products whether synthetic or naturally produced can negatively affect honey bee brood or queens. These products often are applied through impregnated plastic strips or as powders spread between brood frames.<ref name="Jack2021"/>

Synthetic compounds often have high efficacy against Varroa mites, but resistance has occurred for all of these products in different areas of the world. [[Pyrethroids]] are used because a concentration that will kill mites has relatively low toxicity to honey bees.<ref name="Jack2021"/> Compounds derived from plants have also been assessed for mite management. Thymol is one essential oil with efficacy against mites, but can be harmful to bees at high temperatures. Other essential oils such as garlic, oregano, and neem oil have had some efficacy in field trials, though most essential oils that have been tested have little to no effect. Essential oil use is widespread in hives with many of those uses being off-label or in violation of pesticide regulations in various countries. Hop beta acids are [[lupulone]]s obtained from hop plants and have been used in products marketed for mite control.<ref name="Jack2021"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Pesticides used for Varroa mite treatment<ref name="Jack2021"/>
|-
! Chemical !! Efficacy !! Notes
|-
| [[Amitraz]] || High (75{{endash}}90%) || Not very affordable; slower occurrence of resistance
|-
| [[Coumaphos]] || Low || Use decreased over time due to low efficacy and resistance
|-
| [[Flumethrin]] || High (73{{endash}}97%) || Negative effects to honey bees less severe than tau-fluvalinate
|-
| [[Tau-fluvalinate]] || Low || Efficacy lost due to resistance; reduced brood survival and queen size
|-
| [[Formic acid]] || High (35{{endash}}75%) || Efficacy varies based on temperature, brood population, and proximity to the chemical within the hive; can cause brood or queen mortality
|-
| [[Oxalic acid]] || High (near 100%) || Used during broodless periods only and increases grooming behavior; no known cases of resistance
|-
| [[Thymol]] || Moderate (50{{endash}}80%) || Similar temperature-based issues to formic acid, not effective under {{cvt|15|°C|°F}}
|-
| [[Lupulone|Hop beta acids]] || Moderate (43{{endash}}88%) || Low toxicity to humans and bees
|}

Resistance to pyrethroids has occurred in the Czech Republic and the UK due to a single amino acid substitution on Varroa mite's genome. Underlying mechanisms for resistance in other pesticides, such as coumaphos, are still unknown.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mitton |first1=Giulia A. |last2=Meroi Arcerito |first2=Facundo |last3=Cooley |first3=Hazel |last4=Fernández de Landa |first4=Gregorio |last5=Eguaras |first5=Martín J. |last6=Ruffinengo |first6=Sergio R. |last7=Maggi |first7=Matías D. |title=More than sixty years living with Varroa destructor : a review of acaricide resistance |journal=International Journal of Pest Management |date=1 July 2022 |pages=1–18 |doi=10.1080/09670874.2022.2094489|s2cid=250231123 }}</ref>