Acaricides and their effects on honey bee drones of the Prioksky breed type

Acaricides on bee colonies, as well as when they enter bee products, has negative effect on the reproductive performance of drones. Acaricidal treatment influences badly on the mass of drones, sperm concentration, sperm viability and the mass of seminal vesicles. The vital activity of bee colonies largely depends on queen bees, as well as the reproductive characteristics of drones, which are the main factor of natural selection in honey bees. A comparative assessment of the sperm quality indicators of drones and larvae, which were treated with various drugs for the treatment of varroosis, is given. The effect of acaricidal drugs on honey bee drones of the Prioksky breed type has been determined. A control group and three experimental groups of bee colonies were formed. In each experimental group there were three bee colonies with the same economic characteristics. Drone larvae in the first group were treated with a drug with amitraz as the active substance, in the second group a drug based on thymol and oxalic acid was used, and in the third group a drug with fluvalinate as the active ingredient was used. The effect of antiarrhotic drugs on drones was assessed by the quality of their sperm (morphology, sperm concentration), as well as morphometric measurements of their body (tarsal, cubital indices, discoidal displacement). As a result of the completion of the scientific study, the data were revealed indicating the effect of tested varroatosis drugs on sperm quality and external characteristics of drones. An increase in the number of deformations of sperm heads, a decrease in the cubital index of the right anterior wing, as well as pathological changes in the wing were recorded. The lowest sperm quality indicators were observed in drones whose larvae were treated with an amitrase-based drug.