Apiguard® Thymol Varroa Mite Treatment – 10 x 50g Trays | APVMA-Registered Organic Varroa Control | Treats 5 Hives

Australia’s First Fully Registered Varroa Treatment —Organic Thymol Gel for Effective, Residue-Free Varroa Control with Up to 93% Efficacy

Looking for an organic, fully APVMA-registered Varroa mite treatment? Apiguard® Thymol Gel is one of the world’s most trusted organic Varroa control products — used in over 60 countries — and was the first Varroa treatment to receive full APVMA registration in Australia. Each pack contains 10 x 50g foil trays, enough to treat 5 hives (2 trays per hive over a 6-week treatment cycle).

What is Apiguard® and how does it work?

Apiguard® is a slow-release thymol gel — thymol is a natural compound derived from the thyme plant, making Apiguard a genuinely organic Varroa treatment. Worker bees walk over the gel tray, picking up tiny amounts of thymol on their bodies and distributing it through the colony. The thymol vapour kills phoretic Varroa mites on adult bees and disrupts mite reproduction, while leaving the bees unharmed when used as directed.

Why Apiguard® is a beekeeper favourite worldwide

• APVMA-registered — fully registered for use in Australia (registration #65570)
• Up to 93% efficacy — proven results across thousands of treatments globally
• Organic active ingredient — thymol from the thyme plant
• Residue-free — no harmful chemicals left in honey, wax, or comb
• Easy to use — peel back the foil lid, place the tray on top of the brood frames, and close the hive.
• Long shelf life — manufacturer guarantees usability for 2 years after the printed expiry date when stored unopened in cool conditions
• Open trays one at a time — perfect for beekeepers with just a few hives who want their treatment to last across seasons
• Used in 60+ countries — a global standard for organic Varroa management

How to use Apiguard® Trays

Always follow the APVMA-approved label for full instructions. As a general guide:

• Dose: 2 trays per hive over a 6-week treatment cycle
• Application 1: Peel back the foil lid and place the first tray gel-side-up on top of the brood frames, centred over the colony. Leave for 2 weeks.
• Application 2: After 14 days, remove the first tray and place a second 50g tray in the same position. Leave for 4 weeks.
• Spacing required: Leave at least 0.5cm (or use an empty super or eke) between the tray and the hive cover — bees need room to walk over the tray
• Total treatment time: 6 weeks
• Pack contents: 10 trays = 5 full treatments

Important conditions for best results

• Temperature matters — Apiguard works best at above 15°C, with optimal results between 15°C and 40°C. Cooler temperatures slow the treatment; warmer temperatures speed it up.
• Apply only when bees are active — distribution depends on bee movement.
• Honey supers must be removed before treatment. Apiguard is not approved for use with honey supers in place.
• Open hive entrances fully — thymol vapour is heavier than air and needs ventilation.
• Treat only when Varroa monitoring shows mite counts have exceeded the treatment threshold.

No honey withholding period — safe and clean

Once treatment is complete and trays are removed, honey supers can be added back. Apiguard is one of the most trusted organic Varroa treatments precisely because it leaves no harmful residues in honey, wax, or comb.

Why rotation matters

Even with organic treatments, rotation between different chemical classes is best practice. To prevent Varroa resistance:

• Rotate Apiguard® with treatments from different chemical classes, such as:
  • Apivar / Apitraz (amitraz)
  • Bayvarol® / Apistan® (synthetic pyrethroids)
  • Api-Bioxal (oxalic acid)
  • Formic Pro (formic acid)

Rotation keeps Varroa from developing resistance and protects the long-term health of your apiary.

Mandatory record keeping

By using any APVMA-registered Varroa treatment, you should maintain treatment records including date of treatment, hive locations, product used, and dose. Records should be kept for at least 2 years and made available to authorities on request.

Safety and Storage

• Wear chemical-resistant gloves when handling — thymol can irritate skin and eyes
• Avoid breathing vapours during application
• Wash your hands thoroughly after handling
• Store in a cool, dry place in the original sealed container
• Keep away from children, pets, and food/feed
• Long shelf life — manufacturer guarantees usability for 2 years past the printed EXP date when unopened
• For poisoning, call Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26

Trusted Australian beekeeping supplier since 2016

Beekeeping Gear has been Australia’s trusted source for APVMA-registered Varroa management products since 2016. Visit our Sydney showroom in Granville (next to Clyde train station) or our QLD location in Meadowbrook for hands-on advice, or order online with fast Australia-wide shipping.

Pair with our Matching Products

Apivar amitraz strips, Bayvarol® flumethrin strips, Api-Bioxal oxalic acid, InstantVap vaporisers, Varroa monitoring tools, and protective gloves — for a complete integrated Varroa management toolkit.

Order your Apiguard® 10-tray pack today — and protect your colonies with one of the world’s most trusted organic Varroa treatments.