On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:37:50 EST, Walter Zimmermann <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

 
>This substance is banned in Canada for use with bees, perhaps in the US  also
>and elsewhere
>so how is it that Chile gets to use this when it contaminates the  hive
>Walter


from a Randy Oliver article
http://www.scientificbeekeeping.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38

"The downside of amitraz is that it is somewhat more toxic to bees than fluvalinate, and shuts 
down the queen’s egglaying during treatment (Henderson 1998; pers comms).  This is not 
surprising, since Bloomquist (1996) states, “Amidines cause an overstimulation of octopaminergic 
synapses in insects, resulting in tremors, convulsions, and continuous flight behavior in adult 
insects. Moreover, these compounds have the ability to cause a true anorexia in insects and also 
suppress reproduction.”

The upside to amitraz is that it degrades quickly in honey and beeswax (Fries, et al 1998), and 
therefore leaves virtually no residues (although one of its metabolites, DMF, is quite stable, and is 
a common contaminant of European honey (Shroeder, et al 2004)).  Vesely, et al (2004) analyzed 
beeswax in the Czech Republic for amitraz and its degradation products.  They concluded “these 
quantities do not present amitraz as hygienic risk for bees and for humans even after 20 years of 
its systematic application.”

http://www.scientificbeekeeping.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38


from a comb contamination standpoint Amitraz is a better alternative the fluvalinate and 
coumapohos

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