EVALUATION OF OPTIMAL TIME OF HONEYBEE (APIS MELLIFERA) TREATMENT WITH ANTI-MITE PREPARATIONS

V. Pileckas

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to investigate the changes of mite distribution in the honeybee colonies and to assess the efficiency of chemical measures used to prevent the varroatosis of honeybees. The study was carried out in 2009, in the apiaries of Northern Lithuania. The changes of Varroa destructor mite distribution in the hive were investigated in May, the variation of Apis mellifera honeybee infection with mites was investigated after the spring treatment of honeybees and the efficiency of chemicals was investigated before and after the autumn feeding. Honeybee colonies with 9 combs squated with honeybees were used for the investigation of the changes in mite distribution in honeybee families. The level of infistation was approximately 11.3 ± 2.17%. The mite catchers were put under the combs and the bottoms of the catchers were lined with paper sheets smeared with vaseline and divided into 72 squares. A box with Tymovaroi (VET - AGRO, Poland) preparation was put on the frames of the nest and kept there for 14 days. When the subframes were taken out it was estimated by the number of fallen mites that the highest place of the mite concentration was in the central part of the hive. The level of honeybee infection with Varroa destructor mites after the spring treatment of honeybee families with Tymovaroi (VET - AGRO, Poland) preparation decreased from 11.3 ± 2.17% to 1.7 ± 0.22% (P<0.001), but the level of infection in September was 10.6 ± 1.08%. At the end of August the honeybee were treated with 2% oxalic acid aerosol (n = 10). About 921 ± 29.99 mites fell down after the first treatment and after the second there were 894 ± 33.39 fallen mites (P>0.5). About 1816.1 ± 43.33 mites in total fell after the two treatments. In the second half of September the honeybees (n = 10) were treated again. About 2248.3 ± 138.43 mites fell down after the first treatment and about 251.8 ± 22.97 after the second one (P< 0.001). About 2500 ± 138.36 mites in total fell after the two treatments or 37.7% (P<0.001) more in comparison with the number of fallen mites at the end of August.

Keywords: Apis mellifera; Apistan; oxalic acid; Thymol; treatment; Tymovaroi; Varroa destructor

Date published: 2018-03-09