> OA treatment affects the general condition of bee colonies: the workers' performance is restrained due to the changes in behaviour, the decreased nursing of brood can lead to a lack of healthy and vital workers and the decreased lifespan could modify demographic alterations in colony age structure. Under the suggestion, that the treatment will cause damage of the digestive organs, such bees would be weaker and less vital. This could influence the general state of health of whole colonies.

Regardless to the findings of this study, the
advantages of OA as a treatment against the
mite V. destructor still outweigh the possible
negative consequences to the honeybee colony
and it should remain as one of the main
varroacides.

Sublethal effects of oxalic acid on Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae): changes in behaviour and longevity
Saskia SCHNEIDER, Dorothea EISENHARDT, Eva RADEMACHER
Apidologie published online 9 Nov 2011

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