Measuring Impacts Of Neem OIL and Amitraz On Varroa Destructor and Apis Mellifera In Different Agricultural Systems Of South Florida.

Given the dominant role pollinators play in food production, their sharp declines in recent decades have a real possibility of threating global food security. It is imperative that actions are taken now to find solutions to improve their well-being. The main goal of this work is two-fold: (a) to understand how different agricultural systems (conventional vs. organic) influence Apis mellifera parameters (honey yield, queen fecundity, and Varroa destructor mortality); and (b) to find alternative mite controls (i.e Neem oil and Amitraz). The results demonstrated Neem and Amitraz mixtures to have the most effect on mite mortality, with no impacts on queen fecundity and colony strength. Further, queen fecundity and honey yield was significantly higher in sites with higher flower abundance and diversity, demonstrating higher colony strength in these sites. Further understanding of the relationship between apiculture and agricultural management is vital for conservation of pollinators and thus food security.