The present invention relates to a formula or composition for use inreducing a honey bee parasitic mite infestation that may comprise, forexample, a liquid,solid, or paste composition, comprising about 5-20% beta acids (about 5-75% byweight), about 5-75% by weight propylene glycol, about 5-75% by weightpolysorbate60, about 0.5- 35% of a thixotropic material, such as fumed silica, and/orabout 0.5-5%pf an antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid, the composition is active againstparasiticmites for more than about 14 days in the bee hives. Compositions of thepresentinvention provide effective control, treatment, or prevention of honey beeparasitic miteinfestation by inclusion of, for example, certain excipients that retard betaacid oxidation,prolong availability of active ingredient for bee uptake, improve convenienceforbeekeepers, or both retard beta acid oxidation and prolong the availability ofactiveingredient for bee uptake.
