Fuente: PubMed "apiculture" Vet Parasitol. 2026 Apr 15;345:110771. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2026.110771. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe recent spread of Tropilaelaps mercedesae into previously mite free regions has created an urgent need for effective control measures. This study evaluated the "within brood cell efficacy" of two formic acid based treatments, Formic Pro® and Muraviinka®, against T. mercedesae and Varroa destructor in western Georgia, a humid subtropical region where colonies were managed under Western beekeeping practices and exposed to late summer and autumn conditions relevant to many temperate apicultural systems. Field trials were conducted in August and October 2025 using Apis mellifera colonies in single modified Dadant hives. Mite mortality, brood infestation, brood age specific survival, and colony strength were assessed. Both treatments induced rapid and near-complete mortality of T. mercedesae in both seasons and reduced brood infestation to near-zero levels. Time to complete mortality differed by season and product: in August, Formic Pro® achieved complete mortality within 2.5 days, whereas Muraviinka® required 2.5-5 days. In October, near-complete T. mercedesae mortality occurred within 2.5 days for both treatments. Mortality of V. destructor increased significantly but remained incomplete and was strongly season dependent, with significant effects observed only in October. Brood age-specific analyses showed higher V. destructor survival in younger brood stages, particularly following Muraviinka® treatment, while T. mercedesae survival was not affected by brood age. Short-term formic acid exposure generally had no negative effects on colony strength, although adverse effects were observed in some heavily Varroa infested colonies. These findings confirm that formic acid is highly effective against T. mercedesae under conditions representative of temperate apiculture but provides variable control of V. destructor. Integrated pest management in newly invaded regions should therefore emphasise treatment timing and environmental conditions and should not assume equivalent efficacy against both mite species.PMID:41996750 | DOI:10.1016/j.vetpar.2026.110771