Acaricide Residues in Beeswax and Honey

Abstract

Samples for analysis were collected from honey bee [Apis mellifera] colonies after acaricide treatments (to control Varroa jacobsoni). Bromopropylate residues were found to accumulate in brood comb wax and were more than twice as high in colonies treated once a year (4 Folbex strips) for 5 years than in those treated once. Fluvalinate accumulated in brood comb wax of colonies treated continuously with Apistan for 1 year (max. 40-60 mg/kg). Coumaphos did not apparently accumulate after 5 Perizin treatments, but a sampling problem may have led to erroneous results. Flumethrin residues after Bayvarol treatments were, on average, 0.051 mg/kg in brood combs. Levels of the acaricides were lower in honey comb wax and even lower in honey stores (well below permitted limits). The behaviour of acaricides during recycling of old comb wax spiked with acaricides was also studied. On average, the acaricide concentration was 1.7 times higher after recycling. Commercial samples of wax for foundation contained 0.2-4.8 mg/kg, but wax from beekeepers who had been using alternative varroa control methods for at least 3 years contained only 0.1-1.3 mg/kg.