Find out more
about the Varroa Controller
Report of Trial
Sam Giggins from Willams River Honey borrowed a controller for a few weeks to run some experiments. Below is a link to his findings.
Live demonstration
Sven did a treatment at the Hawkesbury Bee Club apiary.
Mike From AussieMike's Bees created a video that you can watch here.
Study from Bavaria
In 2015, the Bavarian State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture commissioned a study to establish the effectiveness of hyperthermia as a treatment for varroa. Click below to read their findings.
Article in the German Bee Journal
In 2015, the Bavarian State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture studied the effectiveness of hyperthermia in treating Varroa. Click below to read the findings.
While Dr Berg initially mentioned potential harm to bees, a later study he co-authored confirmed no damage occurred. (See next article below)
2019 Study on hyperthermia
This study was focused on whether hyperthermia treatments had effects on drone fertility. You can read it below.
Frequently asked questions
The Standard size, which fits 20 frames, weighs 40 kilos. The Mini, which fits ten frames, weighs 30 kilos.
No, there is no risk of AFB or other disease transmission when using the Varroa Controller for the following reasons:
- The interior of the machine is made of metal, making it easy to clean. A simple wipe with a cloth and some alcohol is all that’s needed.
- The frames only come into contact with the hanging bar. This bar is removable and very easy to clean. If desired, you can fully immerse the bars in alcohol using a long container (such as a plumbing pipe setup) and then wipe them clean.
- To make cleaning even simpler, we recommend placing kitchen towel paper at the bottom of the machine. This will catch any drops of nectar or wax, making cleanup quick and reducing any residual risk further.
The Varroa Controller is designed with hygiene and ease of cleaning in mind, ensuring safe and disease-free operation for your hives.
Since the Varroa Controller doesn’t harm the bees and targets a different set of bees each time, you can treat as often as needed.
However, treatments should only be done on days suitable for safe beekeeping—avoid days that are too cold (to prevent chilling the brood) or too hot (to avoid stressing the bees).
To effectively manage mites already present in the hive, we recommend treating once and then again 14 days later to target any remaining mites. This approach helps keep mite populations under control, aside from any new mites entering the hive.
In Europe, beekeepers typically treat their hives three times a year. Here in Australia, since we don’t experience a brood break, the ideal frequency would be four treatments per year to effectively manage mites.
However, due to high re-infestation rates—particularly while feral hives are still present—this may not always be practical in the short term. As the situation evolves and feral hive populations decrease, we’ll gain a clearer picture of the best treatment schedule for Australian conditions.
For now, regular monitoring of mite loads will help determine when treatments are needed.
Absolutely not! The Varroa Controller is designed with safety in mind and will not operate without demineralised water in the reservoir. This is crucial because the water plays a key role in ensuring the brood is not harmed during treatment.
Additionally, using demineralised water is essential to protect the Controller itself from damage caused by mineral build-up. Always make sure the reservoir is properly filled before use.
Quick links
Home
Contact
About
Services
Shop
Projects
Privacy policy
DON'T MISS OUT ON THE FUN
Join our community and stay up-to-date with all the latest news and events at Starlight Club!
Sign up for our newsletter today and be the first to know about upcoming social events, workshops, and other exciting activities.
Plus, you'll receive exclusive access to special promotions and discounts only available to our email subscribers.