[NatureNS] crow behaviour

References: <4C20D3CA.5030005@ns.sympatico.ca> <4C21188C.1090004@chebucto.ns.ca>
From: Ulli <uhoeger@dal.ca>
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:10:31 -0300
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Some volatile organic acids are used to control parasite infestation.
Formic acid was and still is used as a very efficient acaricide to  
fight varroa mite infestations in honey bee colonies.
Liquid formic acid is placed in a bee hive to evaporate (e.g. covered  
container with a cardboard wick) and to built and maintain a certain  
formic acid concentration in the hive air for several days.
Uptake of formic acid vapor by mites  and bees is via the respiratory  
system. The trick is to tune in a formic acid titer in the air that  
a) will not harm the bees, b) will not disturb colony life, and c) is  
high enough to kill the mites.
If done correctly it works very well to control the varroa mites, and  
as a side effect other arthropod bee parasites (tracheal mites) and  
unwanted hive guests (some moths and their larval stages) are  
eliminated as well.
So far the mites have been unable to develop resistance against  
formic acid, a problem that made some other systemic treatments useless.
Since its biodegradable formic acid leaves no residue in honey and  
wax, another problem with most other medication.
The only drawback is that application is more labour intense for the  
bee keeper  and some monitoring is required to adjust the evaporation  
rate.

I have seen this behavior in a number of song bird species and  
woodpeckers,   looks like birds found out about the benefits of a  
formic acid shower long before human beekeepers got the idea.

Ulli

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