Evaluating the efficacy of HiveClean® in controlling the Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) and its potential side effects on the honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in Alborz province

Document Type : Paper, Persian

Authors

Division of Honey Bee, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

HiveClean® is a miticide with oxalic acid as its main active ingredient, recommended for controlling the Varroa mite (Varroa destructor). This study evaluated the efficacy of this miticide and its side effects on honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies from mid-summer to mid-autumn of 2025 in Karaj, Iran. Sixteen mite-infested colonies were randomly assigned to treatment (n = 8) and control (n = 8) groups. Treatment colonies received HiveClean® three times at seven-day intervals, while control colonies were left untreated. Mite infestation levels were estimated using the alcohol wash method after the treatment period. Efficacy was assessed based on by the change in infestation levels. Side effects on brood and adult bee populations, as well as queen survival, were also monitored. After HiveClean® application, infestation levels in treated colonies changed from 2.25 ± 0.72% to 1.85 ± 0.63%, a difference that was not statistically significant (P > 0.999). The estimated efficacy of HiveClean® was 36.04 ± 23.06%. No significant side effects on colony populations or queen survival were observed. Overall, these results indicate the low efficacy of HiveClean® in controlling Varroa mites under the tested conditions. Further evaluation of this miticide in other seasons and regions is recommended.

Graphical Abstract

Evaluating the efficacy of HiveClean® in controlling the Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) and its potential side effects on the honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in Alborz province

Keywords

Main Subjects

Article Title [Persian]

ارزیابی کارایی هایوکلین® در کنترل کنه واروآ (Varroa destructor) و اثرات جانبی احتمالی آن‌ روی کلنی‌های زنبورعسل (Apis mellifera) در استان البرز

Authors [Persian]

  • مصطفی امینی
  • وحید قاسمی
  • علیرضا عرب
  • زهرا زرباف
بخش زنبورعسل، گروه علوم دامی، دانشکده علوم و مهندسی کشاورزی، دانشکدگان کشاورزی و منابع طبیعی، دانشگاه تهران، کرج، ایران
Abstract [Persian]

هایوکلین® کنه­کشی است با ماده مؤثره اصلی اسید اگزالیک، که برای کنترل کنه واروآ (Varroa destructor) توصیه می­شود. این پژوهش با هدف ارزیابی کارایی این کنه کش و اثرات جانبی آن­ روی کلنی­ های زنبورعسل (Apis mellifera) از اواسط تابستان تا اواسط پائیز سال 1404 در شهرستان کرج انجام شد. شانزده کلنی آلوده به کنه به طور تصادفی به دو گروه تیمار و شاهد تقسیم شدند. کلنی­ های­ تیمار سه مرتبه و با فاصله هر هفت روز با هایوکلین® درمان شدند. کلنی­ های شاهد در طی این سه هفته با هیچ ترکیب کنه­ کشی تیمار نشدند. پس از اتمام این دوره، سطح آلودگی کلنی ­ها به روش شستشو با الکل برآورد شد. کارایی­ هایوکلین® بر اساس میزان تغییر در سطح آلودگی کلنی ­ها برآورد شد. اثرات جانبی این کنه ­کش روی جمعیت نوزاد و زنبور بالغ کلنی­ ها و همچنین زنده ­مانی ملکه­ ها بررسی شد. نتایج نشان داد که پس از مصرف هایوکلین®، سطح آلودگی کلنی­ های تیمار از 72/0 ± 25/2 درصد به 63/0 ± 85/1 درصد تغییر پیدا کرد که این اختلاف از نظر آماری معنی­ دار نبود (999/0 P >). میزان کارایی هایوکلین®، 06/23 ± 04/36 درصد برآورد شد. این کنه­کش اثر جانبی قابل­ ملاحظه ­ای روی جمعیت کلنی­ ها و زنده­ مانی ملکه به همراه نداشت. در مجموع، نتایج پژوهش حاضر بیانگر کارایی پایین هایوکلین® در کنترل کنه واروآ بود. توصیه می­شود، کارایی این کنه­ کش در سایر فصول سال و نقاط دیگر کشور نیز ارزیابی شود.

Keywords [Persian]

  • کنه واروآ
  • هایوکلین®
  • کارایی کنه‌کشی
  • جمعیت کلنی
  • زنده‌مانی ملکه

© 2026 by Author(s), Published by the Entomological Society of Iran

This Work is Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International Public License.

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Journal of Entomological Society of Iran
Volume 46, Issue 3
July 2026
Pages 371-384

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