I find that manufacturers set the dose to give
95% mite kill, with not too much stress on the colony.  I don't look for
95% kill, but do look to minimize stress.

Just the opposite:

I have a colony of "mite resistant stock" which I bought as a package. This colony was the first in my apiary to exceed mite thresholds, the bees were showing deformed wings in the beginning of August. So I treated with a double dose of apilife var, to try to wipe the mites out before the main flow from knotweed. The bees reacted poorly, clustering out for a couple of days. The queen disappeared. I will check the levels again, but my goal of knocking the mites down AND maintain the stock failed, since they are superseding. Runniest bees I have ever had, by the way. Really nervous.

Pete

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