Control of Varroa destructor Using Oxalic Acid, Formic Acid and Bayvarol Strip in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colonies

Abstract

The effectiveness of oxalic acid (3.2%), formic acid (65%) and flumethrin strip (Bayvarol) for the control of Varroa destructor (Anderson and Trueman) mite in broodless honeybee (Apis mellifera lingustica Linnaeus) colonies was determined. Three groups of five colonies each were treated with one of these agents, while the fourth group of five colonies was used as control. Mite mortality was examined in debris at 4-day intervals before application of the next treatment. The highest number of fallen mites 177±35.12 (Mean ± SE) occurred with oxalic acid and the difference between the treatments was highly significant. The efficacy and honey yield from the experimental colonies were also highly significantly different from the controls. The highest mean efficacy of 99±1.24 and honey yield 12.08± 0.86 was found in 3.2% oxalic acid treatment. No queens were lost and adult honeybee mortality did not occur in any of the colonies during the experiment.