APPLICATION OF ORGANIC ACIDS FOR THE TREATMENT OF BEES AGAINST VARROATOSIS

Abstract

The effectiveness of oxalic and lactic acids against varroatosis of honeybees was studied in laboratory and apiary conditions in the late autumn period. The studies were performed in the Tyumen Region apiaries in accordance with "Guidelines for the study of means and methods to control the varroa mite". The results of laboratory experiments showed that the maximum acaricidal activity was observed for 3.5% oxalic acid and 15% lactic acid and was 98.6±1.7% and 96.3±3.5%, respectively. In apiary conditions, the effectiveness was 87.1±2.2% (85.4–89.5%) for a single treatment of the broodless bee colonies with 3.5% oxalic acid by watering the bees in interframe spaces with 5 ml per beeway. In the control group, death of mites corresponded to 11.7±1.1%. The number of varroa mites was reduced by 90.0±2.1% (94.4–88.3%) by treating the broodless bee colonies twice in a 5 day interval with 15.0% aqueous lactic acid solution by spraying the frames with bees in a volume of 5 ml on each side of the comb. At the same time, the maximum death rate of mites was observed in the bee colonies during the first day after the treatment. The mite mortality was 10.7±1.10% in the control group during the follow-up. No death of queen-bees or bees was detected during the treatment in both experiments.