PLASTIC STRIPS CONTAINING ORGANOPHOSPHOROUS ACARICIDES TO CONTROL VARROA-JACOBSONI - A PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENT

Two organophosphorous acaricides, coumaphos, the active substance of t he varroacide product Perizin(R), and a closely related molecule, the active ingredient of the product Cekafix(R), were incorporated at diff erent concentrations into a plastic polymer. Glass slides were coated with a thin layer of acaricide-containing plastic polymer and used to treat groups of 50 infested bees maintained in small cages, over a 15- day period. The bees were reinfested each day to replace fallen mites. Concentrations (10% or more) were found that cause 85-100% of total i ntroduced mites to fall, without injuring the bees. Strips containing these two organophosphorous acaricides have potential as alternatives to pyrethroid-based strips to control V. jacobsoni.