Negative long-term effects on bee colonies treated with oxalic acid against Varroa jacobsoni Oud.

Abstract

Two oxalic acid treatments were given to five colonies in autumn and five colonies in spring. In each treatment, colonies were treated every 7 days for 4 weeks with a 3% sprayed oxalic acid. Another five colonies in each season served as controls and were sprayed only with water. Efficacy of oxalic acid in autumn was 94% and in spring was 73%. A long-term study of the colonies for 3-4 months after the last application of oxalic acid showed a statistically significant negative effect of the acid on brood development. In addition, three queens died in the treated colonies.