Co2 Varroa Tester

Please note: CO2 Canister is not included in the product due to International aviation security limitations. 

In the CO2 method, bees and mites are rendered unconscious by exposure to carbon dioxide gas. A sample of bees, which are asleep, is gently shaken in the varroa tester. This makes the mites fall off the bees and go through the holes in the white basket. Research conducted in Europe indicates results that are similar in accuracy to those obtained by an alcohol wash.

Efficiency of varroa monitoring methods and the benefits of standardized monitoring devices.

Ludovic de Feraudy, Dr. Ulrike Marsky & Ph.D Jiri Danihlik. - Apimondia 2019 proceedings. 

If in doubt about whether your bees have many varroa mites, then this is the solution. You catch 200 bees from the broodframe (avoid catching the queen). Then you anesthetize them with CO2 gas. After 10-20 seconds, shake the varroa counter for 10 seconds. Varroa mites are also affected by the anesthetic and will fall off the bees. So they are easy to count, and it's easy to evaluate the number of mites in your hive. The anesthetized bees will wake up after a short while and return to the hive. It's easy and simple, and gentle on the bees. Use 16-gram CO2 bottles (1 bottle is enough for 4-6 tests).

 TIP: Use the CO2 dispenser gently in the beginning, since the bottle is under high pressure