The infestation of Varroa destructor is one of the most critical challenges that global beekeeping faces, causing varroosis (or varroatosis). First identified in the late 1960s in the Soviet Republics and Eastern Europe, Varroa reached Italy in 1981, spreading nationwide by 1985, and was detected in the Aosta Valley (the extreme northwestern part of the country) in 1988.
During the initial spread of the mite, varroosis was classified as a notifiable disease, requiring beekeepers to report infestations, monitor colonies, and adopt preventive measures, among which colony destruction was not unusual. In some regions, financial compensation was provided for apiary losses. As Varroa became endemic in Italian apiaries, attention shifted toward implementing authorized veterinary treatments, integrated pest-management strategies, and ongoing beekeeper education.
Over the years, the Ministry of Health has issued increasingly structured ordinances emphasizing prevention, monitoring, and treatment. Current guidelines recommend at least two annual interventions aligned with the parasite’s biology and seasonal bee-colony cycles: i) after the main honey harvest and ii) before the wintering period. However, these interventions must be adapted to local climatic conditions and colony development stages. In certain regions, additional treatments may be required, considering factors such as infestation levels and nectar flow dynamics.
Beekeepers, supported by industry associations, play a central role in monitoring infestation levels and timing interventions. Effective Varroa control requires strategic planning and distributing treatments throughout the year. This approach ensures optimal colony health while minimizing the risk of significant losses.
Structured national surveillance is essential to monitor resistance to active ingredients used in treatments, safeguarding their continued efficacy. Timely, well-planned interventions, adapted to local conditions and the biological cycles of both the mite and the bees, are fundamental for managing Varroa infestations and maintaining the productivity and health of bee colonies.
