Membrane-barrier delivery of formic acid, a chemical used for mite controlon honey bees (Apis mellifera)

Formic acid vapours have been shown to be an acceptable alternative to Apis tan (fluvalinate) in the control of Varroo jacobsoni, a parasitic mite foun d on honey bees. In this relatively new and increasingly important alternat e treatment, beekeepers are repeatedly exposed to formic acid as a liquid a nd its vapours. The vapour concentrations are significant, but the greater danger is exposure from direct contact of the concentrated acid with the sk in. A barrier method using a latex membrane is described, and data is prese nted for the safe, effective and inexpensive delivery of 10 +/- 1, mean +/- s.e. (n = 6) g/day of 65% (vol./vol.) formic acid as vapour.