Amitraz has been a key acaricide in the fight against Varroa destructor for many years

Amitraz has been a key acaricide in the fight against Varroa destructor for many years. However, some beekeepers have noticed that despite following the same treatment protocols, the expected reduction in Varroa levels is not achieved, raising the question: why is amitraz no longer effective against Varroa? There is no single answer to this, but a significant fact has emerged in Turkey: a genetic mutation associated with amitraz resistance has been identified in local Varroa populations. While it is not accurate to label every colony that does not respond to amitraz as having "resistant Varroa," the possibility of resistance must be seriously considered when Varroa levels do not decline despite treatment.