In-hive miticides affect drone survival and sperm viability

Miticides are commonly used by beekeepers to control infestations of the devastating honey bee pest Varroa destructor. Tau-fluvalinate has previously been shown to negatively affect sperm viability in drone honey bees, but little is known about the effects of other miticide applications on drone sperm viability or drone survival. Young drones were treated with varying concentrations of six miticides (tau-fluvalinate, coumaphos, amitraz, fenpyroximate, oxalic acid and thymol) and the rate of their recapture was recorded 14 days after treatment. Semen was collected from captured drones and subjected to fluorescent stains to determine sperm viability.