We present data for hives treated with five
different acaricides; Apiguard (thymol), Apistan (tau-fluvalinate), 
Checkmite (coumaphos), Miteaway (formic acid) and ApiVar (amitraz). 
The results indicate that thymol, coumaphos and formic acid are able
to alter some metabolic responses. These include detoxification gene expression pathways

three genes presented significant down regulation 
[including] vitellogenin, which encodes a pleiotropic protein that affects many 
physiological processes including immunosenescence

Vitellogenin is implicated in early forager behavior and consequently shorter longevity,
and also in the down regulation of some immune system pathways observed

Vitellogenin may modulate longevity as well. Vitellogenin
knockdown reduces the life span of honey bees in part by inducing
an early shift from nursing to the short-lived forager stage, suppressing 
juvenile hormone. Acaricide-induced lifespan reduction may be very
harmful, potentially compromising the sustainability of the whole colony.

Please cite this article in press as: Boncristiani, H., et al. Direct effect of acaricides on pathogen loads and gene expression levels of honey bee Apis mellifera. Journal of Insect Physiology (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jinsphys.2011.12.011

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