Some birds take advantage of the ants' chemical defense by placing live ants in their feathers to rid themselves of mites. When used in beehives as directed, the formic acid pesticide product acts by directly killing the mites, while not substantially disrupting bee behavior or lifespan. Honeybees play a vital role in pollinating agricultural crops, as well as home gardens and ornamentals. However, due to parasitism by varroa and tracheal mites, the numbers of commercial hives and wild honeybees have decreased significantly over the past decade. Intended to control tracheal mites and aid in the suppression of varroa mites.
Formic acid is mixed with other ingredients to become gel-like in consistency.
The gel is contained in a plastic pouch. The pouch is vented by removing all or part of an adhesive strip, allowing slow release of formic acid within the beehive over a period of 30 days. Therefore, the EPA considers toxicity data and exposure data in determining whether to approve a pesticide for use. The gel-pack formulation of formic acid is expected to minimize the potential for dermal, eye and inhalation exposure for pesticide applicators. However, because of the corrosive nature of formic acid, and potential for eye, skin, and mucosal irritation, the Agency is requiring stringent precautionary labeling.