Beekeeping Guides
Everything we've learned about keeping mites down and colonies alive, written by the team at Lorob Bees, the primary US seller of the InstantVap oxalic acid vaporizer. Every guide cites current research and tells you exactly what to do.
New to mites? Read these four in order:
Oxalic Acid Vaporizers
InstantVap Lite vs Compact vs Original vs Turbo
Which model fits your hive count, with a full spec table.
InstantVap vs ProVap vs Varrox Eddy
An honest comparison of the cordless vaporizers on the market.
How to Use an Oxalic Acid Vaporizer Safely
Respirator, PPE, exposure limits and a step-by-step treatment.
Which Oxalic Acid Should You Use?
EZ-OX vs Api-Bioxal vs wood bleach, and why EPA registration matters.
Treating Bees During the Honey Flow
Vaporizing with supers on: what's allowed and what to expect.
5 Reasons the InstantVap Compact Is a Must-Have
Why the mid-size model is most beekeepers' pick.
Safe Oxalic Acid Vaporization for Hive-IQ
Treating insulated poly hives without melting the entrance.
Oxalic Acid: Dose, Timing, Schedule
How Much Oxalic Acid Per Hive?
The legal max, the 2 g we recommend, and the schedule by season.
Our Summer Oxalic Acid Routine
The every-3-days cycle, day by day, with what to expect on the board.
Treating a Swarm with Oxalic Acid
One dose, before the first brood is capped, for a clean start.
Treating Package Bees with Oxalic Acid
The best first treatment a new colony can get.
Oxalic Acid Just Got Better and Cheaper
Why we switched to EZ-OX.
Varroa Mites
Varroa Mite Treatment Guide: Every Option Compared
Oxalic acid, Apivar, Formic Pro, Apiguard, HopGuard, VarroxSan, with study numbers.
Varroa Mites on Bees: What They Look Like
Identification, life cycle, and the signs you'll miss.
How to Do a Mite Wash
The 5-minute alcohol wash, with thresholds by season.
Why Did My Bees Abscond?
How to tell true absconding from a varroa collapse.
Robbing Bees: How to Recognize and Stop It
And why a robbed hive spreads mites to every hive in the yard.
Winter Bees and Why Colonies Die in January
Why August mite counts decide winter survival.
Bee Diseases
Deformed Wing Virus in Honey Bees
What it is, what causes it, and how to stop it.
American Foulbrood: Signs, Test, and What to Do
The ropiness test, the burn rule, and the new vaccine.
European Foulbrood and Chalkbrood
The two stress diseases and how to fix the stress.
Nosema in Honey Bees
Why dysentery isn't diagnosis, and what the research says.
Hive Pests and Hive Problems
Wax Moths in Beehives
Identification, life cycle, freezing and protecting stored comb.
Small Hive Beetle: Identification and Control
Traps, slimeouts, and why strong colonies don't get beetles.
Queenless Hive: Signs and What to Do
The test frame, laying workers, and when it's actually mites.
Spring Buzz: A Guide for Mid-Atlantic Beekeepers
A quick seasonal checklist.
Ready to treat?
Shop the InstantVap oxalic acid vaporizers, EPA-registered EZ-OX oxalic acid, the Easy-Check mite wash, and a full-face respirator. Lorob Bees is the primary US seller of the InstantVap, with stateside customer service and a two-year warranty.