Thanks for reaching out with this beekeeping question. I'm happy to hear you are monitoring and managing varroa mites.

You may be interested in joining Beekeeping Question and Answer webinars from Michigan State University. Our first webinar of the season is tonight.

I think you are misremembering the part about MSU using Apivar, since MSU hasn't used Apivar in our campus colonies several years. 

Beekeepers should always read the EPA label for varroa mite treatments prior to applying them, since legally pesticides must be applied according to their labels. Here are Labels for APIVAR (87243-1) | US EPA. As you will see from the label, Apivar cannot be used with honey supers (when you are collecting honey for human consumption). Furthermore, the label says "Leave strips inside the hive for 42-56 days, and then remove" and "Remove Apivar strips 14 days before placing honey supers." So, at minimum you'd need to leave the strips in for at 42 days and then wait 14 days after removing them before using honey supers.

The treatments allowed for use with honey supers are formic acid (Formic Pro, Mite Away Quick Strips), potassium salt of hops beta acid (Hopguard 3), and oxalic acid (Api-Bioxal, EZ-OX, and Varroxsan). The formic acid treatments (Formic Pro and Mite Away Quick Strips) are the only treatments known to kill varroa mites in the sealed brood. Varroxsan is a long-lasting oxalic acid treatment that may kill mites on bees emerging from brood cells. So, if you are planning to do a treatment with honey supers on during the spring/summer when you expect lots of sealed brood, then Formic Pro (or its older formulation Mite Away Quick Strips) or Varroxsan are likely the best fit.

You should note that there are other considerations for choosing a varroa mite treatment. For example, Formic Pro should only be applied in certain temperatures, and it's not suitable for very small colonies. Again, you should read the EPA pesticide labels for more information:

Here are Labels for FORMIC PRO (75710-3) | US EPA. The manufacturer also has lots of helpful information online: Formic Pro - NOD Apiary Products Ltd..

Here are Labels for VARROXSAN (94413-3) | US EPA.

The Tools for Varroa Management Guide from the Honey Bee Health Coalition has lots of other information on varroa mite management and treatment options. Here are Varroa mite treatments not included in the 8th Edition of the Honey Bee Health Coalition's Tools for Varroa Management guide, which include newer treatments like Varroxsan.

Here is a webinar recording that covers options for splitting colonies: Established Colonies: Preparing for Swarm Season. You can submit specific questions about splitting your colony through the Ask Extension form at Questions? - Michigan Pollinator Initiative. 

Happy beekeeping!

Hello,

Thanks for joining Monday's webinar. 

It's normal to feel confused about varroa mite treatments. It can be tricky to pick a treatment, because they all have their own pros and cons. Furthermore, some colonies need more varroa mite management than others, so we aren't able to say exactly what's needed for a colony to survive since it is variable.

I wasn't sure what you meant when you said that you didn't Formic Pro would be suitable because you only have one colony. Maybe you meant that after you split the colony you're concerned the population in both will initially be too small for Formic Pro?

We generally encourage beekeepers to maintain at least two colonies so they have resources and options for troubleshooting issues like queen events.

Oxalic acid applied as a dribble (solution method) or vaporization don't kill varroa mites reproducing in the sealed brood, so we generally recommend these methods when there is sealed brood. The Varroxsan treatment is a slow-release oxalic acid treatment that can be used in small colonies and with honey supers on. 

I'm glad you're connect with beekeepers at COMB! Feel free to reach out with additional questions.

Happy beekeeping!