title: Evaluation of Oxalic Acid Treatments against the MiteVarroa destructorand Secondary Effects on Honey BeesApis mellifera.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  TheVarroa destructorvarroasis is a very serious parasite of honeybeeApis mellifera. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness ofVarroatreatment using organic acid (oxalic acid) in Algeria identifying its side effects on bee colonies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment was conducted in one apiary consisting 30 colonies kept in Langstroth hives kind. Oxalic acid dripped directly on bees 5ml of this solution of oxalic acid per lane occupied by a syringe. Three doses were tested: 4.2, 3.2 and 2.1% oxalic acid is 100, 75 and 50 g of oxalic acid dehydrate in one litter of sugar syrup (1water to1 surge) concentration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of average efficiency obtained for the first dose was 81%, 72.19% for the second dose, and 65% for third one, while the dose of 100 g oxalic acid causes a weakening of honey bee colonies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experiments revealed that clear variation in the treatment efficiency among colonies that this might be related to brood presence therefore in order to assure the treatment efficiency oxalic acid should be part of a bigger strategy ofVarroatreatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University M'Hamed Bougara of Boumerdes, Boumerdès, Algeria; Laboratory of Biology, and Physiology Animal, ENS Kouba, Algiers, Algeria.
authors.forename: Noureddine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adjlane
authors.affiliation: Institut Technique des Elevages, Baba Ali, Alger, Algérie.
authors.forename: El-Ounass
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Tarek
authors.affiliation: Department of Bee Research, National Center for Agriculture Research and Extension, Baqa'a, Jordan.
authors.forename: Nizar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haddad
keywords: Algeria; Apis mellifera; Effectiveness; Oxalic acid; Varroa destructor