Review of Biotechnical, Biological, and Chemical Methods in the Fight Against Varroa Mites, Including Their Effectiveness and Impact on the Economic Performance of Apiaries

To be effective, the fight against Varroa mites requires beekeepers to be highly inventive and constantly update their knowledge regarding the adaptation of the mites and the latest proven methods for combating them. Biotechnical methods are not only great support but are also slowly becoming a necessity in this battle. They are already being used in the apiary management practices of professional beekeepers and breeders. This paper summarizes the results of previous research on various biotechnical methods and other non-chemical elements supporting the fight against mites. It should be noted that none of the methods mentioned will be effective enough to be used on its own, and the best results are achieved by integrating a specific method (or several) with the use of a selected medicinal substance. After analyzing attempts to use each of the methods separately and in combination, it was found that the most effective method is achieving a broodless state in the bee colony and then applying a medicinal substance, which, in the vast majority of experiments, is oxalic acid. Next, limiting the brood to one or several combs and then removing the brood containing the majority of mites (trap combs) has proven to be highly effective. There are also references to methods that seem promising but have not been fully tested and researched in the field. Studies confirming the economic justification for the use of biotechnical methods are also presented.