The acaricidal effect of flumethrin, oxalic acid and amitraz against Varroa destructor in honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica) colonies

Abstract

During 2007 and 2008, natural mite mortality was recorded in honey bee colonies. These colonies were then treated with various acaricides against Varroa destructor and acaricide efficacies were evaluated. In 2007, experimental colonies were treated with flumethrin and/or oxalic acid and in 2008 the same colonies were treated with flumethrin, oxalic acid or amitraz. The efficacy of flumethrin in 2007 averaged 73.62% compared to 70.12% for three oxalic acid treatments. In 2008, a reduction of 12.52% in mite numbers was found 4 weeks after flumethrin application, while 4 oxalic acid applications produced significantly higher (P < 0.05) mite mortality, an average of 24.13%. Four consecutive amitraz fumigations produced a 93.82% reduction on average in final mite numbers and thus ensure normal colony development and overwintering. The study is important in order to demonstrate that synthetic acaricides should be constantly re-evaluated and the use of flumethrin at low efficacies need to be superseded by appropriate organic treatments to increase the efficacy of mite control in highly-infested colonies during the period of brood rearing.

Brood removal or queen caging combined with oxalic acid treatment to control varroa mites (Varroa destructor) in honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera)

“…Further evidence from multiple tests in Italy has revealed ≥95% varroa control when queen caging has been combined with OA applications, and this method has now been accepted as a standard treatment protocol (Nanetti et al 2016). It is interesting that, in colonies with brood, our four consecutive OA treatments were highly effective as compared with previous tests, where mortality ranged widely from 44 to 70% (Smodiš Škerl et al 2011). With capped brood present, reports of OA efficacy have been even more variable, ranging from 24 to 95% (Mutinelli et al 1997).…”

Integrated Pest Management Control ofVarroa destructor(Acari: Varroidae), the Most Damaging Pest of (Apis melliferaL. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)) Colonies

“…The efficacy of Bayvarol has remained relatively high, killing 73–97 % of mites ( Smodiš Škerl et al 2011 , Olmstead et al 2019 ), though resistance to Bayvarol has also been reported ( Surlis et al 2016 , Table 3). PolyVar Yellow is flumethrin formulated as a strip.…”

Tratamiento estacional con amitraz contra Varroa destructor y sus efectos en colonias de Apis mellifera

“…Los tratamientos contra Varroa consistieron en aplicar semanalmente y durante cuatro ocasiones 10 ml de amitraz (Taktic) al 1.25% en una toalla absorbente (Scott) de 28 x 6.5 cm sobre los cabezales de los bastidores de la cámara de cría. El uso de amitraz en dichas preparaciones se basa en previas investigaciones realizadas por Lupo y Gerling (1990), Smodiš et al (2011) y Gregorc y Planinc (2012) y en la probada efectividad del amitraz (Semkiw et al, 2013), la poca disponibilidad de acaricidas específicos para las abejas en México y la necesidad del experimento de garantizar la reducción significativa de los niveles de infestación, independientemente de las condiciones ambientales de cada época del año.…”