08/16/2026
🐝 Behind the Scenes at Bill’s Bees: Managing Varroa Mites
Today, while inspecting some splits we recently made, Kayla noticed several Varroa mites on one of our honeybees. We carefully placed the bee in a glass jar so we could get a closer look and use this as an opportunity to show our customers what these tiny parasites actually look like.
At Bill’s Bees, transparency is important to us. We love sharing the exciting parts of beekeeping—honey harvests, new queens, growing colonies, and beautiful frames of brood—but we also believe it is important to share the challenges that come with caring for honeybees.
Varroa mites are not unique to our apiary. They are one of the most serious challenges facing honeybees and beekeepers throughout the United States and across the world. Nearly every beekeeper will have to manage Varroa at some point, and finding mites does not mean a colony has been poorly cared for. What matters is monitoring mite levels, recognizing when intervention is needed, and taking appropriate steps to protect the colony.
Varroa mites are external parasites that feed on honeybees and developing brood. They weaken bees and, even more importantly, can transmit viruses throughout a colony. When mite populations are allowed to become too high, an otherwise strong hive can quickly decline.
This is exactly why routine mite washes are such an important part of responsible hive management. A visual inspection alone cannot tell us the true mite level inside a colony. Regular testing gives us measurable information so we can make informed decisions about when treatment is necessary and which treatment is appropriate for the season and condition of the hive.
Managing around 250 hives means monitoring Varroa is a significant part of our beekeeping operation. Along with producing honey, we spend countless hours inspecting colonies, checking brood patterns and queens, monitoring mite levels, and treating colonies when necessary.
We want our customers to see the whole picture of beekeeping—not just the jar of honey on the shelf. 🍯 Behind every bottle are thousands of honeybees and a tremendous amount of work dedicated to keeping our colonies healthy and thriving.
Healthy bees will always be one of our highest priorities at Bill’s Bees. 🐝💛
