The Use of Sulfur for the Control of Varroa

Many commercial crop growers depend on managed bees for pollination to achieve high yield and top quality produce. There are more than 90 bee-pollinated crops in the U.S. alone, and by improving crop quality and yield, it is estimated that bees add $14.6 billion to crop value. Currently, there is a crisis that is challenging the success and sustainability of communities and economies that depend on bees to pollinate commercial crops: the worldwide infestation of honey bee colonies with the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor. Infestation can destroy a commercial operation in a matter of a few months, with devastating results for those who depend on bees to pollinate their crops. While pesticides are available, resistance to treatment is spreading rapidly. Pima Research Company has developed a novel formulation of soluble sulfur that was shown in Phase I research to effectively control Varroa in the laboratory. Sulfur has FDA GRAS status, and certain formulations are approved organic pesticides. Resistance is not known to develop. The purpose of Phase II research is to develop a delivery system prototype that meets industry requirements for performance reliability and safe handling, to collect efficacy and mode of action data required for registration, and to conduct field testing with commercial beekeepers nationwide.