scholarly journals Lithium chloride outperformed oxalic acid sublimation in a preliminary experiment for Varroa mite control in pre-wintering honey bee colonies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éva Kolics ◽  
András Specziár ◽  
János Taller ◽  
Kinga Klára Mátyás ◽  
Balázs Kolics
Keyword(s):  
Oxalic Acid ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Lithium Chloride ◽  
Lithium Salts ◽  
Varroa Mite ◽  
Potential Control ◽  
Superior Efficacy ◽  
Mite Control ◽  
Wintering Conditions ◽  
Bee Colonies

AbstractSince lithium salts were demonstrated to be very effective for the potential control of Varroa destructor, a highly detrimental parasite of honey bee (Apis mellifera), no studies have been reported on their comparison with any commonly used varroicides in commercial bee colonies. In this study we compared the effectiveness of lithium chloride to that of oxalic acid, a widely used miticide. The results of the present study confirm that lithium has superior efficacy to oxalic acid sublimation both as a main or a supplementary pre-wintering treatment at moderate infestation levels, restricted to certain pre-wintering conditions. Considering its easy implementation in apicultural practice and its twofold mode of action, trickling would be the preferred way of administration after the use of lithium salts as varroicides is authorised.

scholarly journals Diagnosis of Varroa Mite (Varroa destructor) and Sustainable Control in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Colonies—A Review

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleš Gregorc ◽  
Blair Sampson
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Organic Acids ◽  
Essential Oils ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Mite Infestation ◽  
Varroa Mite ◽  
Mite Control ◽  
Bee Colonies ◽  
Reliable Methods

Determining varroa mite infestation levels in honey bee colonies and the proper method and time to perform a diagnosis are important for efficient mite control. Performing a powdered sugar shake or counting mites that drop from combs and bees onto a hive bottom board are two reliable methods for sampling varroa mite to evaluate the efficacy of an acaricide treatment. This overview summarizes studies that examine the efficacy of organic acids and essential oils, mite monitoring, and brood interruption for integrated varroa mite control in organic beekeeping.

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

2011 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Ivana Smodiš Škerl ◽  
Mitja Nakrst ◽  
Lucija Žvokelj ◽  
Aleš Gregorc
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Oxalic Acid ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Colony Development ◽  
Apis Mellifera Carnica ◽  
Brood Rearing ◽  
Mite Control ◽  
Bee Colonies ◽  
Mite Mortality

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.

scholarly journals Contact Effect Contribution to the High Efficiency of Lithium Chloride Against the Mite Parasite of the Honey Bee

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éva Kolics ◽  
Kinga Mátyás ◽  
János Taller ◽  
András Specziár ◽  
Balázs Kolics
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Lithium Chloride ◽  
Mode Of Action ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Paper Strip ◽  
Varroa Mite ◽  
Contact Mode ◽  
Action Mechanisms ◽  
Strip Test

Lithium chemicals have been proven to be very effective in eradicating Varroa destructor, the detrimental parasite of the honey bee; however, little is known about the side effects on brood and long term consequences on the colony. Earlier, it was proposed that the action mechanisms of lithium chloride do not include the contact mode. Here, we investigate this question using a paper strip test to demonstrate the concentration-dependent effectiveness of lithium in the contact mode of action, confirming that it is also a contact agent against the Varroa mite. According to our knowledge, this is the first report on the high varroicidal effect of lithium in the contact mode of action. Our findings may open up possibilities for novel ways of treatment (e.g., the use of lithiated strips) in the event that lithium salts become legal for use in apiculture.

scholarly journals Bee-to-bee contact drives oxalic acid distribution in honey bee colonies

Apidologie ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 481-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas P. Aliano ◽  
Marion D. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Oxalic Acid ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Bee Colonies

scholarly journals Morphological Characterization and a Morphometry Map for Varroa Mites from Northwest of Egypt

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 75-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.F. Abou-Shaara ◽  
R.M. Tabikha
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Morphological Characterization ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Width Ratio ◽  
Varroa Mite ◽  
Body Width ◽  
Varroa Mites ◽  
First Time ◽  
Bee Colonies

AbstractVarroa mite,Varroa destructor, is the most destructive factor to western honey bee colonies worldwide. In 1904, Varroa was firstly recorded on honey bees, at the beginning it was hypothesized that Varroa is one species but recently this hypothesis has been considered to be incorrect. In 1983, Varroa mite was recorded in Egypt for first time. So far, a single study was done in Egypt to confirm Varroa species to beV. destructorand notVarroa jacobsonias it was previously thought. Still the exact haplotype of Varroa in Egypt is unknown. This study is a step towards the identification of Varroa in Egypt. Here, morphological investigations were performed on Varroa specimens belong to northwest Egypt (El-Behera governorate). Three characteristics only showed significant differences among districts, namely body width, genital shield width, and genital shield length/genital shield width (ratio II), while the rest of characteristics did not present any significant differences. The correlations among the characteristics were very weak, except body length which correlated significantly (P<0.05) with body width and genital shield width by 0.52 and 0.42, in respect. The study presented additional confirmation thatV. destructoris the current species infesting honey bee colonies in Egypt. Also, Varroa haplotype was identified to be the Korean one. A list of some morphological traits of Varroa mite was provided to enable further comparisons. A morphometry map for Varroa mites was also done using a geographical information system (GIS) to correlate between geographical locations and morphological characteristics. The morphometry map clearly classified studied districts, according to measured characteristics, into three classes as low, moderate and high. This study has a significant importance towards the fully understanding of Varroa populations in Egypt.

The efficacy of dusting honey bee colonies with powdered sugar to reduce varroa mite populations

2009 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda M. Ellis ◽  
Gerry W. Hayes ◽  
James D. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Mite ◽  
Bee Colonies

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

Apidologie ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 821-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleš Gregorc ◽  
Mohamed Alburaki ◽  
Chris Werle ◽  
Patricia R. Knight ◽  
John Adamczyk
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Oxalic Acid ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Acid Treatment ◽  
Varroa Mites ◽  
Bee Colonies

scholarly journals The effect of oxalic acid applied by sublimation on honey bee colony fitness: a comparison with amitraz

2016 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-260
Author(s):  
Ivana Papežíková ◽  
Miroslava Palíková ◽  
Stanislav Navrátil ◽  
Radka Heumannová ◽  
Michael Fronc
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effect ◽  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Oxalic Acid ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Bee Colony ◽  
Colony Fitness ◽  
Honey Bee Colony ◽  
Bee Colonies

Oxalic acid is one of the organic acids used for controlling Varroa destructor, a mite parasitizing the honey bee (Apis mellifera). The aim of this work was to examine the effect of oxalic acid applied by sublimation on honey bee colony fitness, and to compare it with the effect of amitraz, a routinely used synthetic acaricide. Bee colonies of equal strength were randomly divided into two groups. In December 2014, one group was treated with amitraz in the form of aerosol, and the second group was treated with oxalic acid applied by sublimation. The colonies were monitored over winter. Dead bees found at the bottom of the hive were counted regularly and examined microscopically for infection with Nosema sp. (Microsporidia). At the end of March 2015, living foragers from each hive were sampled and individually examined for Nosema sp. infection. Colony strength was evaluated at the beginning of April. No adverse effect of oxalic acid on colony strength was observed despite the fact that the total number of dead bees was non-significantly higher in the oxalic acid-treated group. Examination of dead bees for Nosema infection did not reveal significant differences in spore numbers between the experimental groups. There was a substantial difference in living individuals, however, with a significantly higher amount of spores per bee found in the amitraz-treated colonies compared to the oxalic acid-treated colonies. Compared to amitraz, oxalic acid applied by sublimation showed no adverse effects on bee colony fitness or on successful overwintering.

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