bee-keeperMost winter losses trace back to mites that were treated blind: no count before, no count after, and a treatment that quietly failed. A varroa treatment log is only half the job — the other half is the number that proves it worked. bee-keeper keeps both, per hive.
Count mites without guesswork
Enter the result of an alcohol wash, sugar roll or sticky board — or photograph the sample and tap each mite on the photo; the app does the standardized maths and gives you mites per 100 bees. No mental arithmetic at the hive, no lost scraps of paper.
Thresholds that follow the season
The same count means different things in May and in August. bee-keeper applies seasonal thresholds: 3 mites per 100 bees calls for treatment at any point in the season, and from late summer — when the winter bees are being reared — around 1 per 100 already raises the alarm.
A treatment log that guards your honey
Log the product and date, and the app computes the withdrawal period and pins a “do not harvest until” warning to that hive — so medicated honey never ends up in a jar. The record doubles as your paper trail.
Verify it worked
A treatment is not a result — a low follow-up count is. The app reminds you to re-count 7–21 days after treating, computes the knockdown (the share of mites removed), flags anything below target, and warns when you use the same active ingredient twice in a row — the recipe for resistant mites.
Per-hive history, offline
Every count and treatment lives with the hive it belongs to, works with no signal in the yard, and syncs later. For the beekeeping side of the fight, read Varroa under control and Wintering.
Start free
Open bee-keeper.org in your phone’s browser — no install needed. Every account starts with a 10-day full-access trial, no card required; the free tier then covers 1 apiary and up to 7 hives.
Frequently asked questions
What mite level calls for treatment?
A common rule, and the one bee-keeper uses: 3 or more mites per 100 bees means treat now at any point in the season, and from August around 1 per 100 already calls for action because the winter bees are at stake.
How does photo mite counting work?
Photograph the wash jar lid or the sticky board, then tap each mite on the photo — the app counts them and converts the result to mites per 100 bees.
What is a withdrawal period?
The legally prescribed time after a treatment during which you must not harvest. Log the treatment and bee-keeper shows a “do not harvest until” date on that hive.
How do I know the treatment worked?
Re-count 7–21 days after the treatment ends. The app computes the knockdown against your pre-treatment count and flags a weak result — the sign to re-treat with a different active ingredient.