Field trial and prototype optimization of a new agent against the varroa mite, a parasite of honey bees

螨虫是世界各地蜜蜂（Apis mellifera）的有害寄生虫。在加拿大，瓦螨的侵扰是冬季蜂群损失的主要原因，它限制了作物的春季授粉和蜂蜜的生产。这给养蜂人造成了巨大的收入损失，并在年初带来了巨大的蜂群更换成本。减少冬季蜂群损失的方法是在秋天治疗它们，当瓦螨种群繁殖的时候。养蜂人为此目的只有一套有限的杀螨剂，其中一些产品正在从市场上消失，因为螨虫已经产生了抗药性。我们发现了一种新的、高活性的杀螨化合物，并于2019年秋季在加拿大的两个地方成功进行了测试。这种化合物选择性地麻痹螨虫，使它们从蜜蜂身上掉下来，最终死亡。该化合物具有熏蒸作用，也可抑制卵巢细胞内的螨虫繁殖。这种化合物不会在蜂箱中留下可检测到的残留物，也不会伤害蜜蜂，不像目前使用的一些（正在褪色的）杀螨剂。在这项拨款申请中，我们建议为我们发现的活性化合物开发一种新的释放装置，并在加拿大的三个地方对原型装置进行现场测试。现场试验将包括阴性对照（空装置）、处理（使用我们的新型杀螨剂）和阳性对照（使用天然杀螨剂）。后者对于在开发新型杀螨剂的同时实施害虫综合治理（IPM）至关重要。螨虫管理中的IPM包括轮作不同的杀螨处理，以及在春季和夏季保持螨繁殖低的生物技术控制措施。IPM策略可以预防或延迟抗药性的发生，因此养蜂人将在几十年内拥有抗螨蜂的管理工具，直到抗螨蜂被培育出来或超越。来自拟议的田间试验的数据对于延续已提交的新杀螨剂的部分专利以及该化合物的未来注册至关重要。反过来，这将有助于在加拿大成立一家公司，获得这项技术的许可。

The mite Varroa destructor is a noxious parasite of honey bees (Apis mellifera) around the world. In Canada, varroa infestation is the main cause of winter colony losses, which curtail spring pollination of crops and honey production. This causes significant losses in income to beekeepers and presents large colony replacement costs early in the year. The way to minimize winter losses of colonies is to treat them in the fall, when varroa mite populations bloom. Beekeepers have only a limited set of acaricides for this purpose, and some of these products are fading from the market because the mites have developed resistance. We have discovered a new, highly active acaricidal compound, which was successfully tested in two locations in Canada during the fall of 2019. The compound paralyzes mites selectively, causing them to drop from the bees and eventually die. The compound has a fumigant effect, also curtailing mite reproduction inside of brood cells. The compound does not leave detectable residues in the hive and does not harm the bees, unlike some of the currently used (and fading) acaricides. In this grant application we propose to develop a new release device for the active compound we have found and to field test the prototype devices in three locations in Canada. The field test will comprise a negative control (the empty devices), the treatment (with our new acaricide) and a positive control (with a natural acaricide). The latter is essential for the implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) in parallel with the development of our new acaricide. IPM in varroa management consists of rotation of different acaricidal treatments, along with biotechnical control measures that keep mite reproduction low during the spring and summer. IPM strategies prevent or delay onset of resistance, so beekeepers will have varroa management tools for many decades, until mite resistant bees are bred and beyond. Data from the proposed field trials will be essential for the continuation in part of the patent for the new acaricide, which has been filed, and for the future registration of the compound. This, in turn, will ease the creation of a company in Canada that will license the technology.