Acaricide residues in beeswax after conversion to organic beekeeping methods

Abstract

-Beekeepers interested in converting their honey farms to organic management must replace old combs with organic foundations. The experiment described in this paper compares two methods of replacement of old combs, "fast" (5 combs per year) and "slow" (2 combs per year), by measuring the levels of acaricide residues in the newly built combs. Tested acaricides were coumaphos (Perizin and Asuntol), fluvalinate (Apistan), and chlorfenvinphos (Supona). Significant differences between the two replacement groups were observed only for the Apistan group in the third year, confirming high lipophilicity of fluvalinate. The residue levels in the new combs three years after beginning the conversion were significantly lower than initial levels for all products. Direct contamination of the combs was highest in Asuntol-treated hives and lowest in Perizin-treated hives. Residues in honey exceeding EU Maximum Residue Limit were found only in the case of Asuntol.Apis mellifera / acaricide / organic beekeeping / residues / wax

Comparative reproduction of Varroa destructor in different types of Russian and Italian honey bee combs

“…Acaricide residues have been detected in commercial wax foundations (Lodesani et al 2003;Jiménez et al 2005;Leníček et al 2006) and can have negative effects on varroa mites. Fries et al (1998) documented that comb drawn from foundations treated with 100 ppm fluvalinate, and 10 and 100 ppm coumaphos caused dramatic varroa mortality during the first brood cycle.…”

“…These acaricide residues present in treated combs are known to affect varroa mite population growth (Kraus and Page 1995). Acaricides also are retained in wax used to produce commercial wax foundations (Lodesani et al 2003;Jiménez et al 2005;Leníček et al 2006). High contamination levels (100 ppm fluvalinate, and 10 and 100 ppm coumaphos) caused dramatic varroa mite mortality during the first brood cycle (Fries et al 1998).…”

Short communication. Comparison of the efficacy of Apiguard (thymol) and Apivar (amitraz) in the control of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae)

“…Apivar possesses some advantages, such as the simplicity of application and the low economic cost. However, the main disadvantages of this product are its limited efficacy after continuous use due to the development of resistances (Trouiller, 1998;Elzen et al, 1999) as well as the accumulation of residues in bee products (Martel et al, 2007;Lodesani et al, 2008;Chauzat et al, 2009;Johnson et al, 2009). Nowadays, alternative methods for V. destructor control based on natural products (such as organic acids and essential oils) are being 2 before treatment in order to estimate the initial population of V. destructor in each colony.…”

Predicting pesticide fate in the hive (part 1): experimentally determined τ-fluvalinate residues in bees, honey and wax

“…In addition to problems of toxicity to bees (Melathopoulos et al 2000;Decourtye et al 2005;Halm et al 2006), pesticide residues in hive matrices and in human-consumed bee products (honey, propolis, royal jelly) pose significant concerns. Many analytical methods have been developed for monitoring purposes (Menkissoglu-Spiroudi et al 2000;Fernandez et al 2002;Russo and Neri 2002;Rial-Otero et al 2007), and a large amount of data has been obtained, beginning with the work of Thrasyvoulou et al (1985) and continuing through that of Lodesani et al (2008). Reviews published by Wallner (1999), Bogdanov (2006) and Johnson et al (2010) offer a broad view of the problem of pesticide contamination of bee products.…”