> 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 *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at: http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm