35 ISSN 0373-5680 Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent.

63 (3-4): 35-38, 2004

Effect of Apis mellifera (Apidae) honeybee brood
amount on Oxavar acaricide efficacy against the mite
Varroa destructor (Varroidae)
MARCANGELI, Jorge* and Mara del Carmen GARCA**
* Laboratorio de Artrpodos. Fac. Cs. Exactas y Naturales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Funes 3350.
7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina; e-mail: jamarca@mdp.edu.ar.
**Centro de Extensin Apcola. Ruta 2 Km 342. Coronel Vidal, Argentina; e-mail: ceapicultura@yahoo.com.ar
I ABSTRACT. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of honeybee
brood on acaricide efficacy of Oxavar to control the ectoparasitic mite Va-
rroa destructor (Anderson & Trueman). Work was done at Centro de Extensin
Apcola experimental apiary located at Coronel Vidal, province of Buenos Ai-
res. Ten Langstroth hives were selected and divided in two groups: a) hives
containing three honeybee combs full of brood and b) hives containing six ho-
neybee brood combs. Both groups received five ml of Oxavar (Laboratorio
Apilab, Argentina; 64.6 g/l oxalic acid in destilled water) by comb covered by
adult honeybees in three doses at seven days period. Weekly, dead mites we-
re collected from special floors to avoid mite removal by adult honeybees.
Then, two Apistan (Laboratorio Roteh, Argentina) strips were placed in each
colony to kill remant mites in colonies and the acaricide efficacy was calcu-
lated. Results showed that Oxavar efficacy in the first group (85.6% 1.4)
was significantly higher than in the second one (75.7 1.7). These differen-
ces were tested on the basis of total number of mites killed by Oxavar and
Apistan in both groups (p< 0.05). Results show a good efficacy of this pro-
duct, being application recomended in colonies with reduced honeybee
brood.
KEY WORDS. Varroa destructor. Apis mellifera. Oxavar. Oxalic acid
I RESUMEN. Efecto de la cantidad de cra de abeja Apis mellifera (Apidae)
sobre la eficacia del Oxavar para el control del caro Varroa destructor
(Varroidae). El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la eficacia acaricida
del Oxavar en el control del caro ectoparsito Varroa destructor (Anderson
& Trueman). El trabajo fue realizado en el apiario experimental del Centro de
Extensin Apcola ubicado en Coronel Vidal, provincia de Buenos Aires. Se
seleccionaron diez colmenas tipo Langstroth que fueron divididas en dos gru-
pos: a) cinco colmenas con tres cuadros cubiertos completamente de cra en
desarrollo y b) cinco colmenas con seis cuadros cubiertos por cra. Ambos
grupos recibieron cinco ml of Oxavar (Apilab, Argentina; 64,6 g/l de cido
oxlico en agua destilada) por cuadro cubierto por abejas adultas en tres do-
sis a intervalos de siete das. Semanalmente, se colectaron los caros muertos
de los pisos especiales provistos a las colmenas de estudio con el objeto de
evitar su remocin por parte de las abejas. Una vez concluido el tratamiento,
en cada colmena se introdujeron dos tiras plsticas de Apistan (Roteh, Ar-
gentina) para eliminar los caros remanentes y poder as calcular la eficacia
acaricida del Oxavar. Los resultados mostraron que la eficacia del Oxavar
en el primer grupo (85,6% 1,4) result significativamente superior a la re-
gistrada en el segundo grupo (75,7 1,7). Estas diferencias fueron testeadas a
TrabC n4 19/12/04 10:52 AM Page 35
36 Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 63 (3-4), 2004
INTRODUCTION
At present, Varroa destructor (Anderson &
Trueman, 2000), is the major problem to bee-
keeping development in all countries. Year by
year, an increased number of honeybee colonies
died as consequence of this parasite (Imdorf et
al., 2003).
Several acaricide products have been utilized
to reach an effective control. Pyrethroids as Apis-
tan (Fluvalinate) and Bayvarol (Flumetrine)
seemed to be the answer. However, these pro-
ducts are not utilized in different countries as a
consequence of resistant mite populations (Lode-
sani et al., 1995; Milani, 1995; Lodesani, 1996).
In recent years, new substances to control Va-
rroa mites avoiding mite resistance mechanism
and reduced residues in wax and honey were
analyzed. In this sense, organic acids as formic
and lactic have been used. Formic acid presented
the best results, reaching mites on adult and
brood honeybees (Eguaras et al., 2001a).
Formic acid is a natural component of honey
and present a strong acaricide effect (Ritter &
Ruttner, 1980; Feldlaufer et al., 1997; Eguaras et
al., 2001b). However, this product, as currently
used, has two problems: a) high variability in effi-
cacy against the mite and b) hazard to the beekee-
pers due to corrosive effect.
Another organic substance used in recent
years was oxalic acid. This acid is prepared in
water solution (30 g/l) and applied to reach adult
honeybees (Imdorf et al., 1997). This agent was
effective but mortality and toxicity on adult bees
were reported (Higes et al., 1999). Charriere
(1997) observed that this kind of treatment is ne-
gatively influenced by increased brood area,
being not recomended in climates where honey-
bee brood is present in great proportion throug-
hout the year.
The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect
of honeybee brood on the acaricide efficacy of
oxalic acid under its new formulation Oxavar
(Apilab, Argentina).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Work was done at Centro de Extensin Apco-
la experimental apiary located at Coronel Vidal
(57 44W; 37 27S), province of Buenos Aires
during October and November 2002.
Ten Langstroth honeybee hives, Apis mellifera
(L. 1778), formed by one brood chamber natu-
rally infested by Varroa destructor were selected.
In each colony, a mobile bottom board was insta-
lled with wire screen to count dead mites and to
avoid mite removal by honeybees. Colonies were
divided into two groups: a) five colonies with three
combs full of brood and b) five colonies with 6
combs full of brood. Both groups received Oxavar
in destilled water solution (64.6 gr/l), applying five
ml of solution into a bee ways of bee occupied
combs in three doses at seven days period.
Mite mortality was registered weekly on hive
bottoms. In order to evaluate total mite population
two Apistan strips were applied to the colonies.
Apistan strips were removed from the colonies af-
ter 4 weeks and dropped dead mites were counted.
Treatment efficay was calculated for each co-
lony as follows:
Number of mites
dead by Oxavar
Efficacy= 100
Total number of dead mites
Treatment efficacy was evaluated using Stu-
dent test between number of mites killed by Apis-
tan in both groups.
RESULTS
Results obtained are shown in Table I. Signifi-
cant differences in total number of mites presented
in both groups were not found (t
obs
= 1.17; t
crit
=
2.3; p= 0.27; d.f.= 8), showing all colonies similar
Varroa infestation levels. Acaricide efficacy does
not present high differences within groups, with
partir del nmero total de caros eliminados por el Oxavar y Apistan en
ambos grupos de colmenas (p< 0,05). Los resultados muestran una buena efi-
cacia del producto, siendo recomendada su aplicacin en colonias con una
reducida cantidad de cra en desarrollo.
PALABRAS CLAVE. Varroa destructor. Apis mellifera. Oxavar. Acido oxlico.
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37 MARCANGELI, J. & M. del C. GARCA. Effect of Apis mellifera (Apidae) honeybee brood amount.
average values of 85.6% 1.4 and 75.7% 1.7
for group 1 and 2 respectively. Higher efficacy
was registered in colonies with 3 brood combs.
Average number of dead mites collected for the
first group was 541.8 58.3 and 847.2 67.8 for
the second (t
obs
= 2.5; t
crit
= 2.3; p= 0.03; d.f.= 8;
Table I). These results suggest that Oxavar effi-
cacy is variable and influenced negatively by in-
creased honeybee brood area.
Dead bees pupae and adult were not observed
on the bottom board or in front of colonies during
the treatment period. This would indicate that Oxa-
var does not present mortality or toxicity effect.
DISCUSSION
Results presented in this work show that Oxa-
var is effective for Varroa destructor control, killing
a large number of mites from the colonies. Average
values agree with those previously reported by Bar-
bero et al. (1997) and Marcangeli et al. (2003), who
found an efficacy ranging between 75-80%. Howe-
ver, these results are lower than observed in other
works by Mutinelli et al. (1997) and Higes et al.
(1998). These differences could be explained by
higher oxalic acid concentration and different appli-
cation method used in these experiences.
According to Charriere (1997), the presence of
large brood area would be one of major factors
which reduce the acaricide efficacy. In this sense,
a large number of mites invading brood cells are
protected from this acaricide agent. These obser-
vations are clearly supported by the results pre-
sented in this work. Increasing brood area from 3
combs to 6 combs treatment efficacy presented a
significative reduction of 10% (Table I).
Results presented would support the normal
development and survival of colonies treated with
Oxavar. However, its application would be only
recomended in colonies with reduced number of
brood. In this way, oxalic acid would represent an
effective agent to control Varroa destructor mites,
particulary during early spring or late autumn
treatments when queen oviposition is reduced
and the great proportion of mites are present on
adult bees. Oxavar treatment with large number
of brood will be not effective and colony survival
is reduced as a consequence of large number of
mites in brood cells protected from the acaricide.
In this sense Gregorc & Planinc (2001) reported
that oxalic acid in water solution (2.9%) is only
effective during the broodless period (99.44%)
and less effective when applied to colonies with
capped brood (52.28%).
Higes et al. (1999) reported significant honey-
bee brood and queen mortality after oxalic acid
treatment. However, no mortality effect was ob-
served in this work. In this way, Oxavar is a new
formulation of oxalic acid as contact agent which
avoid adult honeybee intoxication.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We wish to thank Universidad Nacional de
Mar del Plata grant. Also we wish to thank Mr.
Damin and Mr. Eugenio Ferrara.
Colonies Mites killed Mites killed Total number of Acricide
by Oxavar by Apistan mites/colony efficacy (%)
1 2982 516 3348 85.2
2 2874 552 3426 83.8
3 3996 639 4635 86.2
4 3630 507 4137 87.7
5 2841 495 3336 85.1
X S. D. 3264.6 519.6 541.8 58.3 3776.4 584.7 85.6 1.4
6 2682 750 3432 78.1
7 2835 879 3714 76.3
8 2505 810 3315 75.5
9 2718 873 3591 75.6
10 2523 924 3447 73.1
X S. D 2652.6 138.7 847.2 67.8 3499.8 154.7 75.7 1.7
Table I: Acaricide efficacy of Oxavar in Apis mellifera colonies with different amount of brood.
3 brood combs
by colony
6 brood combs
by colony
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38 Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 63 (3-4), 2004
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Recibido: 10-XI-2003
Aceptado: 20-VII-2004
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