Varroa Management • UK

When to Treat for Varroa (UK Guide): Timing, Triggers & Treatments

Clear UK timings for late-summer treatments, brood-break windows, and winter oxalic acid — plus monitoring triggers so you know exactly when to act.

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🐝 BBKA Module 3 — Honeybee Diseases, Pests & Poisoning (Practice)

Answer all parts, then click Submit. Options and sequences reshuffle each time you load or reset the quiz.

Section A — One correct OR select all that apply (1 mark each)

1) Give the scientific name of the Asian hornet.
2) Name field crops which may be sprayed with a chemical harmful to bees (select all that apply).
3) Which organ may be infected with amoeba?
4) Give one difference in the appearance of Varroa and Braula.
5) Name a pest which may attack hives over winter (select all that apply).
6) What disease is associated with Nosema in queen rearing enterprises?
7) Give the scientific name of the greater wax moth.
8) Name a notifiable honey bee disease (GB) (select all that apply).
9) Entrance sizes that keep mice out in winter — select all that apply.
10) Chalkbrood is caused by a…

Section B — Short answer / multi-part

11a) What causes sac brood?
11b) What are the signs or Sac brood (select all that apply):
11c) Put the progression of Sacr brood in order (1 = first):
  1. Prepupa lies in fluid-filled bag, turns pale yellow→brown
  2. Virus fed to larvae in larval food
  3. Body dries into gondola-shaped scale
  4. Fifth moult fails; cuticle not shed
  5. Larvae die after cell is sealed (prepupal stage)
11d) What action would a beekeeper take with Sacbrood  (select all that apply):
12a) Put in order the steps taken to fumigate comb using ethanoic (acetic) acid. (1 = first):
  1. Seal the stack and leave for ≥1 week
  2. Scrape/burn propolis & wax from woodwork
  3. Use 80% acetic acid
  4. Air the boxes for 2 days before use
  5. Stack boxes with pads (≈140 ml 80% acetic acid)
  6. Protect or remove metal parts
12b) What safety precautions should be taken when fumigating acetic acid? (select all that apply):
13a) Small hive beetle — match description to life stage:
5–7 mm black beetles, clubbed antennae, hide from light
10–11 mm beige, rows of dorsal spines, 3 pairs of legs at head
Tiny white, massed in hive crevices/floor
Destroyed with rotten orange smell
13b) Select all actions to take if Small Hive Beetle is suspected (select all that apply):
14a) Name the two species of Nosema (select both):
14b) What constitutes a suitable sample of bees to test for the presence of Nosema and why?
14c) Order the steps of the laboratory method used to confirm the presence of Nosema in a sample of bees. (1 = first):
  1. View at ×400 microscope
  2. Grind with water
  3. Optionally use Nigrosin stain
  4. Remove abdomens
  5. Identify rice-grain spores (5–8×2–3 µm)
  6. Kill bees (freeze or killing fluid)
  7. Place drop on slide, add coverslip
15a) Select the reason why a beekeeper might undertake a Bailey comb changed (select all that apply):
15b) Place in order the steps carried out when doing a Bailey comb change (1 = first):
  1. Close old entrance
  2. Feed syrup
  3. Transfer queen into upper box
  4. Prepare clean brood box with new foundation
  5. Replace remaining old comb and continue feeding
  6. Place over old brood chamber
  7. Insert queen excluder between boxes
  8. Provide new upper entrance
  9. After ~3 weeks remove old brood chamber

Section C — Longer, multi-point

16a) Select the Scientific names for:
AFB →
EFB →
16b) Select the signs of EFB (select all that apply):
16c) Select the signs of AFB (select all that apply):
16d) How can the beekeeper help to prevent the spread of these diseases? (select all that apply):
17a) Place in order, the lifecyle of Varroa destructor (1 = first):
  1. Females emerge with the bee
  2. Hides in brood food until capped
  3. More mites produced from drone brood
  4. Female mite enters brood cell pre-capping (prefers drone)
  5. One male egg then 4–5 female eggs at ~30 h intervals
  6. Male mates with sisters, then dies
  7. Mites develop via nymphal stages
  8. Reproductive cycle repeats
  9. Begins egg laying ~60–70 h after capping
17b-1) Explain the pro's of using Natural mite drop  to count Varroa (select all that apply)):
17b-2) Explain the con's of using Natural mite drop  to count Varroa (select all that apply)):s (select all that apply):
17b-3) Select the pro's of using drone brood uncapping to count Varroa (select all that apply)
17b-4)  Select the con's of using drone brood uncapping to count Varroa (select all that apply)