Department of Entomology and Apiculture, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173 230 Email: kiranapi@rediffmail.com
Online published on 3 December, 2011.
The efficacy of formic acid sponge pads in three different modes against honey bee parasitic mite, Varroa destructor evaluated. Infested honey bee colonies were treated with 60% formic acid soaked in sponge pads covered with plastic cover with holes on upper side. The varroa mite was best controlled by placing formic acid sponge pads at the bottom board of bee colonies @ 50ml at 10 day interval. Significantly, highest recovery was recorded by keeping pad on the bottom board (90%) in comparison to the recovery obtained by placing pads either on the top bars (83.5%) and both on top bars and bottom board (87.4%).
Varroa destructor, Apis mellifera, formic acid, application modes
