Additional Varroa Tools

RobberGards™ – Stop Robbing Bees Fast

Protect Your Hive Entrances from Robbing
Robbing behaviour can devastate colonies, especially during dearth periods. RobberGards™ are a proven solution to prevent robbing by creating a simple but effective barrier to entry for non-resident bees and wasps.

Easy to Use, Highly Effective
✅ Blocks robbers while allowing your bees safe passage
✅ Fits most hive entrances with easy installation
✅ Durable and reusable season after season

Ideal for spring build-up, summer honey flow, and autumn robbing season – a must-have tool for hive security.

Eye Screws to secure the RobberGards to brood box can be PURCHASED HERE

Click Here to see how to fit them to 4 different types of floors

See what “A Kiwi Beeman” thinks about RobberGards Here

Varroa mite re-invasion

This is a huge issue in Autumn and it is believed to be the largest contributor to colony losses.

The varroa mite re-invasion is a result of visits from robber bees and/or from social bee visits.

This was highlighted at the 2021 NZ Bee Conference by an excellent study done by Dr Dennis vanEngelsdorp and shown in this video:-

https://youtu.be/PvWZjwUbLfA?t=1671 

Watch content from 27 min to 33 min. (Remember the study was done in Autumn in USA.)

The RobberGard is especially designed to deter these robber bees and social bees.

The RobberGards™ is an ingenious device to fool wasps and robber bees and stop them from getting into the colony.

These unwanted visitors are guided to potential food in the hive largely by sense of smell.

They go straight to the vent holes at bottom of the RobberGards™and try to get in, without realizing the entrance is at the top.

These intruders very soon give up and go looking for food elsewhere.

The bees learn within 24 hours how to access their own hive and it doesn’t stop them carrying out all their normal duties.

Some of the features and benefits of the RobberGards:-

1. The registered design is made from high quality stainless steel to withstand the corrosive elements outside and last for a very long time, virtually indefinitely.
2. Deters robber bees that want to steal the food supplies inside.
3. Deters social bees from other colonies that want to come and have a look and will mostly spread varroa mites.
4. Deters wasps from robbing food from the colony.
5. Stops mice getting in and damaging the honey combs.
6. Helps to control spread of AFB disease. If a colony gets AFB and has this robber guard, it is far less likely to get robbed out and spread the disease, before the beekeeper finds it and burns it.
7. Allows a lot more ventilation over winter (in hives with solid bases) to reduce condensation in the hives which is detrimental to the health of the colony.
8. Easy to block up with foam rubber if the beehive has to be shifted. The bees can still get lots of ventilation through the robber guard vent holes.
9. Very easy to mount, switch entries or remove with the use of the stainless steel eye screws supplied by Beequip NZ.
10. Has a summer position or rotate 180 degrees for the robbing season and winter. The entrance is just 25mm wide in this setting.
11. One of the 3 sizes will fit virtually every type of beehive base (floor) that is commonly used in NZ.

These can also be used as:

• Mouse guards
• Wasp Guards
• Anti-wasp screens
• Anti-robbing screens
• Robber Guards

Units packed in a carton:

RobberGard 153 - 200 / Carton
RobberGard 225 - 150 / Carton
RobberGard 360 - 100 / Carton

Pricing is per individual unit.

Eye screws are extremely handy for many applications.

One common application is to secure a RobberGard to the brood box on a beehive.

304 grade stainless steel, 40mm long, 20mm diameter.

3.9mm diameter shaft and 4.7mm diameter thread.

The inner diameter of the "eye" is 12mm.

These eye screws have a sharp point and can often be screwed straight into wood.

A 3mm pilot hole will make it easy.

Pricing is per individual unit.

Packed in bags of 200.

Full depth plastic frame for Drone comb. Green.

Commonly used for monitoring Varroa numbers and also to help control the Varroa Mites.

Available as Coated in Beeswax or Unwaxed.

Designed by Randy Oliver of ScientificBeekeeping.com

Stay on top of Varroa mite infestations with this ergonomic, easy-to-use Varroa sampling cup. This simple yet effective tool helps beekeepers monitor mite levels in their colonies and make informed treatment decisions.

Features:

• Ergonomic Design: Compact and comfortable for easy handling during inspections.

• Complete Kit: Includes one fluid-holding cup, one bee sample cup, and one lid.

• Simple Process: Fill with  Beequip Mite Wash detergent (10 ml per 1 litre of water) or 90% alcohol.

How to Use - WATCH VIDEO HERE:

1. 1. Place the perforated cup inside the solid cup.
   2. Add water to the cups up to the fill line. (Approx 70mm from the bottom) Will be approx. 250ml.
   3. Add 2.5ml (half a teaspoon) of the  Beequip Mite Wash detergent and stir until mixed thoroughly.
   4. Alternatively use solution already mixed in bulk or alcohol with 90% strength.
   5. Take a frame of brood and bees from a beehive and carefully check that the queen is not on it.
   6. Shake all the bees off the frame into a container like a beehive lid (upside down). Carefully check again that there is no queen.
   7. Bump the lid so any field bees take flight and go back to the hive. There will be mostly nurse bees remaining.
   8. Shake the bees into a corner of the lid and collect a level 1/2 cup of bees (125ml) and dump it into the mite wash cup.
   9. Immediately put the lid on the cup. Gently tap cup up and down to ensure all the bees are submerged.
   10. Let the bee sample sit for 1 minute to allow for the mites to release from the bees.
   11. Then gently swirl the cups for at least 30 seconds to allow the mites to precipitate through the bees.  Swirl to resonate with the wave, just enough so that the bees at the bottom are gently tumbling.
   12. Remove the lid and lift the perforated cup out and dump the bees.
   13. Count the mites that have settled on the bottom of the solid cup. A 150mm 10x magnifying mirror placed 100mm below the cup will make it easy. (NB. Don't leave the mirror in direct sunlight. It can start a fire!)

Caution! Never shake a mite wash jar. Accurate results are only achieved if the wash jar is swirled to send the mites to outside of the jar and to drop through the bottom holes.

Mite Wash Detergent – Fast & Effective Mite Control

Looking for the easiest and most effective way to get accurate mite counts in your hives? Our Mite Wash Detergent is based on the same formula as the detergent that is  recommended by Randy Oliver of ScientificBeekeeping.com  It has to be a "high sud" formula. Low sud detergents do not work effectively. Randy prefers the high sud detergent to alcohol. It kills the bees & mites quickly and humanely, and dislodge mites fast so you get a reliable reading with minimal fuss. It also stays clear for a longer period of time so that you can re-use the solution many times.

We've tested numerous options over the years, and nothing compares to the performance of this product. It’s fast-acting, inexpensive, and hassle-free.

How to Use:
The detergent is high concentration and should be diluted 1:100 with water.

Mix 10ml of detergent per litre of water for optimal results. The 100ml bottle has a flip cap for precise easy use.

The economical 1 Litre bottle option can be used for refilling the 100ml bottles or making up a bulk batch of wash solution.

Key Features:

• Extremely low cost per wash. Approx. 2 cents per wash if the same solution is used 8 times.

• Quickly & humanely kills bees for accurate mite washing.

• Dislodges mites fast for precise counts.

• Easy to use and cost-effective.

• The most reliable option we've tested.
• Available in 100ml and 1 litre bottle options. Click on the tab above.
• Dilute 1:100 with water when making up the mite wash solution.

If you are serious about effective Varroa Mite monitoring, this is the wash detergent that you must have in your toolkit.

Caution! Never shake a mite wash jar. Accurate results are only achieved if the wash jar is swirled to send the mites to outside of the jar and to drop through the bottom holes.

Tip: This product is fantastic for bubble blowing competitions!

PETTIS TEST KITS: Find out what miticides are not working for varroa mite control and stop wasting money on ineffective treatments!

Use data, not guesswork.

The Pettis Test Kit is a practical and cost-effective solution for beekeepers to detect varroa mite resistance to synthetic miticide strips before it is too late and there are extensive hive losses.

Designed to provide reliable results, the Pettis Test Kit will identify what percentage of varroa mites do not die from the synthetic miticide that is being tested and are potentially resistant to it.

Save a lot of money by only investing in mite control treatments that are still effective.

Key Features:

• Robust and long lasting. The mesh cap is made from stainless steel to ensure a very long life.

• Effective design: The jar & mesh design eliminates any ledges that could hold falling mites and give a false reading.
  

• Reusable Design: Durable and easy to clean, ensuring repeated use season after season.

• What's included:
  3 x Pettis Test Jars and Lids
  1 x Bee Scoop
  1 x Wash Jar
  100ml of Mite Wash Detergent
  Record sheets
• Number stickers to label jars and caps.
• Instruction sheet.

Order extra Pettis Test Jars here

View or Download our Pettis test kits instructions here

How to use it:

Single Pettis Test Jar – Boost Your Varroa Monitoring Efficiency

Expand the capacity of your Pettis Test Kit with this additional test jar. Whether you're managing multiple hives or working in a team, having extra jars on hand allows you to run simultaneous tests—saving time and increasing accuracy across more colonies.

Crafted for durability and ease of cleaning, this sturdy jar is ideal for serious beekeepers focused on efficient, large-scale Varroa monitoring.

Features:

• Compatible with the Beequip Pettis Test Kit

• The mesh cap is made from stainless steel to ensure a very long life.

• The design ensures that there are no leges that mites can get stuck on, to give false results.

• Enables multiple tests at once

• Durable, reusable, and easy to clean

• Essential for high-volume hive checks

A smart addition to your mite monitoring toolkit.

Find out more about Pettis Testing here

View or Download our Pettis test kits instructions here