Acaricide Residues in Beeswax. Implications in Honey, Brood and Honeybee and Influence of Landscape Around Colonies

Abstract

Abstract To make beekeeping sustainable, the management of bee colonies to produce bee products financially viable without compromising the life of bees must implement acceptable practices such as the treatment of hives with appropriate products. Occasionally, the use of acaricides to treat the hives against varroosis is uncontrolled and can accumulate in the hives endangering the bee colonies. In this work, a screening of seven acaricides was carried out in different apiaries in Andalusia (Spain). Their distribution in beeswax, brood, honey, and bee, was evaluated in different times considering the influence of the environment (agricultural, urban and forest) surrounding the colonies. It was found that beeswax was highly polluted but honey, brood and bees had acceptable levels, below their respective MRL or LD50, past a certain period after varrocide treatments. The landscape management around the hives treated with products against Varroa does not influence the hive contamination. Acaricides banned for their use against Varroa, such as chlorfenvinphos, cypermethrin and especially acrinathrin, were found in the hives analysed.