Comparative Evaluation of Organic and Commercial Treatments Against Varroa destructor in Apis mellifera: Implications for Honey Yield in Northeastern Mexico.

Infestation by Varroa destructor represents one of the major challenges for beekeeping, as it compromises both colony health and honey productivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different organic treatments for the control of V. destructor and their effect on honey production in Apis mellifera colonies located on the central region of Tamaulipas, Mexico. A total of 150 colonies were assigned to five treatments: T1, oxalic acid with glycerin; T2, sublimated oxalic acid; T3, Thymol, T4; HappyVarr; and T5, an untreated control. Mite infestation (initial and final) and honey production were analyzed using a non-parametric approach and were evaluated with the Kruskal-Wallis test, and when significant differences were detected, Steel-Dwass multiple comparisons were performed. To examine the relationship between infestation reduction and honey yield, Spearman's rank correlation was applied. No significant differences were observed in the initial infestation levels. However, final infestation levels showed highly significant differences among treatments (p < 0.0001), with T1, T2, T3, and sublimated oxalic acid (T4) significantly reducing mite infestation compared with the control. Sublimated oxalic acid represents the most effective and productive control method under the tested conditions. Honey production also differed significantly among treatments (p < 0.0001), with the highest yields recorded in T3 and T4. A strong negative correlation was detected between final infestation and honey production (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, treatments based on oxalic acid (particularly sublimated) and HappyVarr proved effective in reducing V. destructor infestation and improving honey production, highlighting their relevance as viable alternatives for sanitary management in beekeeping.