Amitraz is a formamide exhibiting both acaricidal and insecticidal activity and is frequently used by beekeepers to protect honeybee colonies against Varroa destructor mites. The aim of this apiary trial was to evaluate the impact of honeybee colony fumigation with amitraz on the level of contamination of honey stored in combs.

Amitraz is a formamide exhibiting both acaricidal and insecticidal activity and is frequently used by beekeepers to protect honeybee colonies against Varroa destructor mites. The aim of this apiary trial was to evaluate the impact of honeybee colony fumigation with amitraz on the level of contamination of honey stored in combs. Experimental colonies were fumigated four times every four days with one tablet of Apiwarol per treatment. Honey was sampled from combs of brood chambers and combs of supers one day after each amitraz application and from harvested honey. Amitraz marker residues (as a total of amitraz and metabolites containing parts of molecules with properties specific to the 2,4-DMA group, expressed as amitraz) were evaluated in honey. All analysed samples were contaminated with amitraz metabolites. 2,4-DMA and DMPF were the most frequently determined compounds. The average concentration of amitraz marker residue in honey from groups where a smouldering tablet was located directly in beehives was significantly higher than that of residue in honey from groups with indirect smoke generation. No significant effect on the honey contamination deriving from the place where it was exposed to smoke (combs of brood chambers and supers) was noted. Amitraz marker residues exceeded the MRL in 10% of honey samples from combs. Fumigation of beehives with amitraz results in contamination of honey stored in combs.

Varroa destructor is the most damaging ectoparasite to the beekeeping economy. The mite has different haplotypes. It is aimed to determine which haplotype is present by examining the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene region of V. destructor found in honey bees in Siirt region. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism(RFLP) methods were applied in the analysis of the COI gene region of V. destructor in Siirt region. To do this,V. destructor samples were collected from 387 enterprises in the Siirt region. DNA extraction followed the PZR.Subsequently, 1.5% agarose gel images were obtained by electrophoresis. The PCR products were then subjectedto XhoI and SacI restriction enzymes and 2% agarose gel images were obtained. 38 of the samples (10%) weresent to a private enterprise for sequencing. The obtained sequences were blasted and compared with thecorresponding reference sequences in GenBank.According to the results of PZR and RFLP obtained from the 387 V. destructor samples in the studytowards the COI gen region, all of the samples were found to be Korean haplotypes and Japanese haplotypeswere not found in any of 387 samples. At the same time, it was also confirmed that the 38 sequenced sampleswere Korean haplotypes.The results obtained from this study are significant in terms of forming a groundwork for futurestudies.