昆虫钠离子通道的研究进展

昆虫只有一个或两个电压门控钠离子通道α亚基基因,但两种转录后修饰(选择性剪切和RNA编辑)实现了昆虫钠离子通道的功能多样性。昆虫β辅助亚基TipE和TEH1-4在钠离子通道表达和调控中也起着重要作用。电压门控钠离子通道在动作电位的产生和传递中至关重要,是多种天然和人工合成神经毒素及杀虫剂的作用靶标,包括广泛使用的拟除虫菊酯类、茚虫威和氰氟虫腙等杀虫剂。其中,拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂通过调控昆虫钠离子通道的失活和去激活,延长跨膜钠离子流的时间,引起神经兴奋性传导障碍;茚虫威和氰氟虫腙阻断昆虫中枢和外周神经系统神经元的动作电位传导,这些神经毒剂都能干扰昆虫钠离子通道的正常功能。昆虫钠离子通道一般存在两个拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂结合位点,但不同物种钠离子通道与拟除虫菊酯的结合位点存在一定差异。据此,本文就昆虫钠离子通道及其与杀虫剂的相互作用加以综述,有望推动昆虫神经受体研究,且对鉴定昆虫抗药性相关突变位点和研发高效的杀虫剂均具有重要参考价值。     

昆虫钠离子通道基因突变及其与杀虫剂抗性关系的研究进展

昆虫电压门控钠离子通道(voltage-gated sodium channel)存在于所有可兴奋细胞的细胞膜上,在动作电位的产生和传导上起重要作用,是有机氯和拟除虫菊酯杀虫剂的靶标位点。在农业和医学害虫控制过程中,由于有机氯和拟除虫菊酯杀虫剂的广泛使用,抗药性问题日益突出。其中,由于钠离子通道基因突变,降低了钠离子通道对有机氯和拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂的亲和性,从而产生击倒抗性(knock-down resistance,kdr),已成为抗性产生的重要机制之一。本文综述了昆虫钠离子通道的跨膜拓扑结构、功能、进化及其基因的克隆;更重要的是总结了已报道的40多种昆虫40个钠离子通道基因非同义突变,以及钠离子通道基因选择性mRNA剪接和编辑,以及它们与杀虫剂抗性的关系;也评述了钠离子通道基因突变引起蛋白质结构的改变,从而对杀虫剂抗性的影响机制。这些研究对于进一步鉴定与杀虫剂抗性相关的突变及抗性机制,开发有机氯和拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂抗性分子监测方法具有重要意义。     

昆虫钠通道的结构和与击倒抗性有关的基因突变

击倒抗性(kdr)是指昆虫和其他节肢动物由于它们的神经系统对DDT和拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂的敏感性降低而引起的抗性。电压敏感的钠通道是DDT和拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂的主要靶标。已知拟除虫菊酯是通过改变位于神经膜上的这类通道而发挥其杀虫效果的,钠通道基因的点突变是产生kdr抗性的主要原因。40年来kdr抗性一直是重要的研究课题,但近10年来在kdr分子生物学方面取得了很大进展。本文主要综述了1996年以来所取得的新进展,着重于钠通道的结构、在14种害虫中与kdr抗性相关的钠通道基因突变及其氨基酸序列的多态性。这些结果有助于对拟除虫菊酯改变钠通道的功能及其机理作进一步探究。     

烟粉虱对拟除虫菊酯杀虫剂的抗性机理

通过增效剂生物测定、生化分析以及钠离子通道基因ⅡS4-6 cDNA片段的RT-PCR扩增,探讨了烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci（Gennadius）对拟除虫菊酯杀虫剂的抗性机理。结果表明：对于采自田间的6个烟粉虱抗性品系,磷酸三苯酯（TPP）和胡椒基丁醚（PBO）对氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯、氯氟氰菊酯和甲氰菊酯均有显著的增效作用,而DEM对4种拟除虫菊酯杀虫剂均无明显的增效作用。烟粉虱抗性品系的α-NA羧酸酯酶和β-NA羧酸酯酶活性分别是敏感品系的2.16～2.65倍和1.22～1.41倍,抗性品系的谷胱甘肽S转移酶活性与敏感品系没有差异,表明羧酸酯酶和多功能氧化酶在烟粉虱对拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂的抗性中具有重要的作用,而谷胱甘肽S转移酶与抗性无关。通过RT-PCR克隆了6个烟粉虱田间抗性品系的钠离子通道结构域ⅡS4-6 cDNA片段的序列（420 bp）,发现与敏感品系相比,有2个位点发生突变,分别为L925I突变和I917V突变,L925I突变在所有6个烟粉虱田间抗性种群中均有发生,该位点突变已被证实与拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂密切相关,表明神经不敏感性可能是烟粉虱对拟除虫菊酯产生抗性的另一个重要因子。     

狄斯瓦螨对杀螨剂抗性机制的研究进展

狄斯瓦螨Varroa destructor是严重危害西方蜜蜂Apis mellifera的主要寄生螨之一,由于杀螨剂长期大量、单一和连续使用,狄斯瓦螨对杀螨剂的抗性发展日趋严重,探明狄斯瓦螨抗性机制对于治理狄斯瓦螨具有重要意义。狄斯瓦螨抗性形成受遗传因素、人为操作因素及其他生态因素的影响,其抗性机制与化学杀螨剂的种类有关,目前研究较多的是靶标不敏感性机制和解毒代谢增强机制,对拟除虫菊酯类杀螨剂抗性机制研究较为透彻,而对有机磷类和甲咪类杀螨剂抗性机制研究有限。本文基于文献,阐述了狄斯瓦螨对拟除虫菊酯类、有机磷类和甲咪类杀螨剂抗性机制的最新研究进展,讨论了抗性治理的最新研究成果及该领域未来的研究方向,以期为狄斯瓦螨有效治理、杀螨剂的安全有效使用及新型杀螨剂开发等研究提供参考。     

云南烟蚜抗药性机制研究

通过比较云南烟蚜敏感品系和抗性品系的解毒酶(α-乙酸萘酯羧酸酯酶、β-乙酸萘酯羧酸酯酶)和靶标酶(乙酰胆碱酯酶)的活力,研究了烟蚜对有机磷、拟除虫菊酯和氨基甲酸酯类杀虫剂抗性的生化机制,并通过酯酶基因扩增检测和钠离子通道突变检测,研究了其抗性的分子机制。结果表明:α-乙酸萘酯羧酸酯酶活力增强是烟蚜对有机磷类、氨基甲酸酯类杀虫剂及拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂的抗性机制之一;乙酰胆碱酯酶在烟蚜对有机磷杀虫剂抗性中起重要作用;3个抗性品系烟蚜均没有发生酯酶基因扩增,抗拟除虫菊酯品系烟蚜发生了钠离子通道突变。     

禾谷缢管蚜阳离子通道基因RSC1的克隆、分子特性及诱导表达分析

【目的】SC1通道(sodium channel 1)是昆虫体内一种重要的离子通道,被认为是一种开发新型杀虫剂的神经靶标。本研究拟克隆禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi的SC1通道基因,并初步分析其生理功能及其与SC1类通道、电压门控钠离子通道、电压门控钙离子通道的进化关系。【方法】采用RT-PCR技术,克隆了禾谷缢管蚜SC1基因完整的开放阅读框;利用实时荧光定量PCR技术,分析禾谷缢管蚜成蚜在不同浓度的高效氯氟氰菊酯诱导下SC1基因表达变化。【结果】获得了禾谷缢管蚜SC1基因(命名为RSC1)完整的开放阅读框(Gen Bank登录号为KU640190),其长度6 687bp,编码2 228个氨基酸。RSC1具有SC1通道的结构特征,有一个不同于电压门控钠离子通道和电压门控钙离子通道的特殊DEEA模体(motif)。系统进化分析结果显示,RSC1与电压门控钠离子通道组成一个进化枝,电压门控钙离子通道组成另外一个进化枝,SC1与电压门控钠离子通道在进化上有更近的起源关系。实时荧光定量PCR分析结果表明,LC15,LC35和LC503种剂量的高效氯氟氰菊酯处理6 h后,禾谷缢管蚜RSC1基因表达量相对于清水对照显著下调,表达量分别为对照的0.57,0.82和0.78倍;3种剂量的高效氯氟氰菊酯处理24 h后,禾谷缢管蚜RSC1基因表达量分别为对照的2.19,1.33和1.19倍,其中LC15(0.1484 mg/L)胁迫下RSC1基因的表达量显著上调。【结论】SC1类通道与电压门控钠离子通道在进化起源上有更近的关系。RSC1通道可能是高效氯氟氰菊酯的次级靶标。由于RSC1和其同源基因只存在于节肢动物中,脊椎动物尚未发现该类基因,因此这类通道可能作为开发新型杀虫剂的神经靶标。     

击倒抗性和钠离子通道

综述了击倒抗性与钠离子通道关系的研究进展。毒理学和电生理学的研究表明,在许多拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂抗性昆虫中存在击倒抗性。分子遗传学研究进一步发现,击倒抗性与钠离子通道位点连锁。最近的研究表明,昆虫神经系统对拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂敏感性下降的击倒抗性机制是钠离子通道结构基因突变。但仍有一些问题,如突变的保守性和分布,需要进一步研究、阐明。     

牧草盲蝽CYP6A13和钠离子通道LPVSSC基因的克隆及参与高效氯氟氰菊酯的抗性分析

昆虫对拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂产生抗性主要是解毒酶活性的增强和钠离子通道的敏感度降低所致。本研究采用RT-PCR和RACE技术克隆获得了牧草盲蝽Lygus pratensis P450 CYP6A13基因（GenBank登录号：MN782520）及钠离子通道LPVSSC基因cDNA全长序列（GenBank登录号：MW821485）。其中CYP6A13基因全长2 003 bp,开放阅读框1 503 bp,编码500个氨基酸,预测蛋白分子质量为57.2 kDa,主要位于细胞内质网,等电点为5.77,无跨膜区和信号肽,存在血红素结合保守功能区。同源比对与系统进化分析表明,牧草盲蝽的CYP6A13与分类学关系上较为接近的昆虫同源蛋白间高度相似。钠离子通道序列LPVSSC开放阅读框6 072 bp,编码2 024个氨基酸,预测蛋白分子质量为228.94 kDa,等电点为4.99,无信号肽,有多个跨膜区域,4个同源结构域（I~IV）,每个结构域有6个跨膜片段（S1~S6）,存在MFM基序。基因表达谱结果表明：CYP6A13在牧草盲蝽成虫头部的表达量高于胸、腹部;室内筛选的高效氯氟氰菊酯抗性R14、R6品系的CYP6A13表达量是敏感品系的18.74和5.45倍;CYP6A13表达量在雌、雄成虫之间无显著差异;不同发育期基因表达量为：初羽化成虫>5龄若虫>4龄若虫>3龄若虫>2龄若虫>1龄若虫。测序比对高效氯氟氰菊酯抗性与敏感品系的钠离子通道序列IIS4~IIS6区域,未发现存在可能导致靶标抗性的氨基酸突变。结果表明CYP6A13基因过表达可能导致了牧草盲蝽对高效氯氟氰菊酯的抗药性,为深入解析CYP6A13基因介导抗药性的功能研究奠定基础。     

拟除虫菊酯的结构与害虫抗药性的关系

以家蝇Musca domestica vicina L.为试虫,用汰选方法研究了家蝇对六种不同拟除虫菊酯的抗性发展.结果表明,家蝇对不同化学结构和不同光学异构体组分的拟除虫菊酯抗性差别很大.对溴氧菊酯、顺式氯氰菊酯抗性发展很快,氯氰菊酯次之,氰戊菊酯、氰戍菊酯A和氰戊菊酯A_σ抗性发展较慢.用抗溴氰菊酯家蝇品系和点滴法测定了十种拟除虫菊酯和七种有机磷杀虫剂的毒力,讨论了它们之间的交互抗性和结构与抗性的关系.溴氰菊酯(抗性比值24.00)、氯氰嫡酯(抗性比值20.11)、顺式氯氰菊酯(抗性比值38.10)和二氯苯醚菊酯(抗性比值11.04),结构相近的交互抗性比较严重.氰戊菊酯(抗性比值4.64)、氰戊菊酯A(抗性比值5.97)、戊菊酯(抗性比值4.49)和氟氰菊酯(抗性比值4.12)化学结构中醇部分与溴氰菊酯相同、酸部分不同,它们与溴氰菊酯交互抗性水平较低.联苯菊酯(抗性比值1.98)化学结构中酯和醇部分都与溴氰菊酯不同,其交互抗性水平较低,杀螟松等七种有机磷杀虫剂,除敌敌畏与溴氰菊酯有轻微交互坑性外,其它均无交互抗性.     

Effect of a fluvalinate-resistance-associated sodium channel mutation from varroa mites on cockroach sodium channel sensitivity to fluvalinate, a pyrethroid insecticide

Fluvalinate is a pyrethroid insecticide that is widely used in the control of the varroa mite (Varroa destructor), an ecto-parasite of the honeybee. Previously we identified four fluvalinate-resistance-associated mutations in the sodium channel gene of the varroa mite. One of the mutations caused a leucine (L) to proline (P) change at 1770 in the linker connecting domains III and IV of the sodium channel. Interestingly, at the position corresponding to the L to P mutation, all known insect (including honeybee) sodium channel proteins already naturally contain a P residue (e.g., P1577 in the cockroach sodium channel BgNa(v)). To determine whether insect sodium channels are less sensitive to fluvalinate than arachnid sodium channels, we replaced P1577 with an L in a BgNa(v) variant (BgNa(v)1-1) and examined the sensitivity of the recombinant channel to fluvalinate. The P1577L substitution did not alter the gating properties of the BgNa(v)1-1 channel expressed in Xenopus oocytes. However, the BgNa(v)1-1(P1577L) channel was five-fold more sensitive to fluvalinate compared with the BgNa(v)1-1 channel. These results not only implicate the L to P mutation in fluvalinate resistance in varroa mites, but also suggest a possible contribution of L1770 to the higher sensitivity of varroa mites to fluvalinate than their insect hosts.     

Control strategies against Varroa mites

In many cases, the easiest way to control a pest or a pathogen is to resort to chemical treatments. In the short period this option is often the most convenient economically and usually does not require refined knowledge of the biology of the pest. Many efforts have been directed to develop chemical treatments against Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman. Nowadays, product based on organic acids, essential oils, pyrethroids, organophosphate, and formamidine are available. Resistance is serious problem in the chemotherapy of parasites and pathogens of the honeybee. High-level resistance to several active substances (the pyrethroids acrinathrin, flumethrin, fluvalinate; the organophosphate coumaphos; the formamidine amitraz) was detected with laboratory assays in different varroa populations and caused failure of the control in the field. At the end of the '80s, products based on pyrethroids, very effective against the mite, but without any appreciable side effect on bees, became available. Resistance to fluvalinate in Italy and later in other countries caused serious damage to beekeeping; early detection was crucial to reduce losses. The problem of developing suitable treatments was difficult in the case of the varroa mite because most substances active against V. destructor have unacceptable side effects on bees. The idea that the mite could be controlled indefinitely with these strategies began to gain ground.     

Virulence and site of infection of the fungus,Hirsutella thompsonii,to the honey bee ectoparasitic mite,Varroa destructor

The Varroa mite, Varroa destructor, is recognized as the most serious pest of both managed and feral Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) in the world. The mite has developed resistance to fluvalinate, an acaricide used to control it in beehives, and fluvalinate residues have been found in the beeswax, necessitating an urgent need to find alternative control measures to suppress this pest. Accordingly, we investigated the possibility of using the fungus, Hirsutella thompsonii, as a biocontrol agent of the Varroa mite. Among the 9 isolates of H. thompsonii obtained from the University of Florida and the USDA, only the 3 USDA isolates (ARSEF 257, 1947 and 3323) were infectious to the Varroa mite in laboratory tests. The mite became infected when it was allowed to walk on a sporulating H. thompsonii culture for 5 min. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that the membranous arolium of the mite leg sucker is the focus of infection where the fungal conidia adhered and germinated. The infected mites died from mycosis, with the lethal times to kill 50% (LT(50)s) dependent on the fungal isolates. Thus, the LT(50)s were 52.7, 77.2, and 96.7h for isolates 3323, 257, and 1947, respectively. Passage of H. thompsonii through Varroa mite three times significantly reduced the LT(50)s of isolates 257 and 1947 (P<0.05) but not the LT(50) of isolate 3323.The fungus did not infect the honey bee in larval, prepupal, pupal, and adult stages under our laboratory rearing conditions. Our encouraging results suggest that some isolates of H. thompsonii have the potential to be developed as a biocontrol agent for V. destructor. However, fungal infectivity against the mites under beehive conditions needs to be studied before any conclusion can be made.     

Monitoring for resistance to organophosphorus and pyrethroid insecticides in Varroa mite populations

The occurrence of resistance in Varroa mite populations is a serious threat to the beekeeping industry and to crops that rely on the honey bee for pollination. Integrated pest management strategies for control of this pest include the judicious use of insecticides. To monitor field populations of Varroa mite for insecticide resistance, a glass vial bioassay procedure was developed to use in the development of a resistance management strategy. Diagnostic concentrations needed to separate susceptible genotypes from resistant individuals were determined for cypermethrin (0.1 microg per vial), fluvalinate (5.0 microg per vial), malathion (0.01 microg per vial), coumaphos (10.0 microg per vial), diazinon (5.0 microg per vial), methomyl (0.5 microg per vial), propoxur (0.1 microg per vial), and endosulfan (2.5 microg per vial). Resistance to organophosphorus insecticides (malathion, coumaphos) and pyrethroids (cypermetrhrin, fluvalinate) was widespread in both La Media Ranch, TX, and Wewahitchka, FL, from 2007 to 2009. There was no resistance to endosulfan, diazinon, methomyl, and propoxur in field populations of Varroa mite in the two locations where resistance was monitored. The seasonal patterns of resistance in Wewahitchka were different from those of La Media Ranch. In the former location, the frequency of resistance to all insecticides tested decreased significantly from 2007 to 2009, whereas it increased in the latter location. Resistance levels were unstable, suggesting that resistance could be successfully managed. The results validate use of the glass vial bioassay to monitor for resistance in Varroa mite and provide the basis for the development of a resistance management strategy designed to extend the efficacy of all classes of insecticides used for control of Varroa mite.     

An Amino Acid Substitution (L925V) Associated with Resistance to Pyrethroids in Varroa destructor

The Varroa mite, Varroa destructor, is an important pest of honeybees and has played a prominent role in the decline in bee colony numbers over recent years. Although pyrethroids such as tau-fluvalinate and flumethrin can be highly effective in removing the mites from hives, their intensive use has led to many reports of resistance. To investigate the mechanism of resistance in UK Varroa samples, the transmembrane domain regions of the V. destructor voltage-gated sodium channel (the main target site for pyrethroids) were PCR amplified and sequenced from pyrethroid treated/untreated mites collected at several locations in Central/Southern England. A novel amino acid substitution, L925V, was identified that maps to a known hot spot for resistance within the domain IIS5 helix of the channel protein; a region that has also been proposed to form part of the pyrethroid binding site. Using a high throughput diagnostic assay capable of detecting the mutation in individual mites, the L925V substitution was found to correlate well with resistance, being present in all mites that had survived tau-fluvalinate treatment but in only 8 % of control, untreated samples. The potential for using this assay to detect and manage resistance in Varroa-infected hives is discussed.     

Persistence and effectiveness of pyrethroids in plastic strips against Varroa jacobsoni (Acari: Varroidae) and mite resistance in a Mediterranean area

An apiary trial was conducted in 1997 in Sardinia, Italy, to verify the effectiveness of fluvalinate in polyvinyl chloride strips and flumethrin in polyethylene strips against Varroa jacobsoni Oudemans. Two indices to evaluate the efficacy of the treatments were adopted: percentage change in mite infestation of worker-sealed brood cells considering only treated hives and percentage change in mite mortality, and the natural variation in mite populations recorded in control hives during the trial. All acaricide treatments reduced the level of mite infestation of both sealed brood and adult bees. However, their effectiveness was slightly reduced in comparison to previous studies because of mite resistance phenomena. Portions of polyethylene strips of flumethrin from treated hives were sampled weekly to determine acaricide persistence using gas chromatography. After 4 wk, a slight reduction (approximately 9%) of the active ingredient content was observed. A laboratory bioassay also was performed to establish the resistance of adult female mites to fluvalinate. Mites were sampled from the experimental apiary and from various Sardinian apiaries which had primarily been subjected to fluvalinate applications in plastic strips or wood inserts for years. Mite resistance varied from 0 to 96%, depending on the acaricide management adopted. The lowest resistance level occurred in an apiary where pyrethroids had never been used, whereas the highest level occurred in an apiary, with intensive use of fluvalinate in wood inserts.     

Optimum timing of miticide applications for control of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Washington State, USA.

Seven treatments for the control of Varroa destructor (Anderson & Trueman) were tested to determine the optimum timing of miticide application. Threshold mite levels indicating miticide application were determined for three possible treatment dates: April, August, and October. The treatments were as follows: (1) fluvalinate in April, (2) fluvalinate in August, (3) fluvalinate in October, (4) fluvalinate in April and October, (5) fluvalinate applied continuously (except during honey flow) with replacement every 42 d, (6) control (no treatment), and (7) coumaphos in April. The number of miticide applications in a season had no effect on brood area or colony bee population a year after initiating the experiment. However, the absence of any treatment significantly reduced brood area and colony bee population and significantly increased colony mite population. Date of treatment had significant effects on colony mortality rates, mite levels, and brood area the following spring. When coupled with sampling and threshold recommendations, a single, late-season application of fluvalinate is as effective for the control of V. destructor as semiannual or continuous miticide applications. Treatment thresholds were recommended for ether roll and 48-h sticky board sampling methods in April (three and 24 mites, respectively) and August (14 and 46 mites, respectively) and for ether rolls in October (three mites) in cold climates.     

A comparison of the toxic and sub-lethal effects of fluvalinate and esfenvalerate on the twospotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae)

There was no difference in the direct toxicity of fluvalinate and esfenvalerate to twospotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch. adults. The residual toxicity LC₅₀ of esfenvalerate was lower. Neither pyrethroid was toxic (<10% mortality) to TSSM eggs or adults at their recommended field concentrations. Fluvalinate was twice as toxic (45% mortality) than esfenvalerate to TSSM larvae at 0.01 g.a.i L^-1. The toxicity of the pyrethroids to TSSM protonymphs and deutonymphs was similar (16–28% mortality at 0.1 g a.i. L^-1). Dispersal from the treated surface was the main response to both pyrethroids by TSSM protonymphs, deutonymphs and adults. Maximum run-off by TSSM adults from fluvalinate and esfenvalerate treated surfaces was found with 0.01 and 0.005 g a.i. L^-1 respectively. Spin-down from pyrethroid treated surfaces was positively correlated with concentration. Oviposition was negatively correlated with concentration. Fluvalinate caused greater reductions in oviposition than esfenvalerate. Both pyrethroids reduced TSSM development rate from larval, protonymph and deutonymph stages, but fluvalinate caused larger reductions. Both pyrethroids prevented mating: for ten days oviposition 93% and 98% of offspring were male for esfenvalerate and fluvalinate respectively at 0.1 g a.i. L^-1. These findings are discussed with respect to the incidence of pyrethroid induced mite outbreaks.     

Comparison of release mechanisms for botanical oils to control Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) and Acarapis woodi (acari: Tarsonemidae) in colonies of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Two major parasitic pests threaten honey bee populations, the external mite Varroa destructor and the internal mite Acarapis woodi (Rennie). Varroa are beginning to develop resistance to the main chemical defense fluvalinate, and alternative control methods are being pursued. Previous studies have shown that botanical oils, especially thymol, can be effective. Six release devices for either thymol or a blend of botanical oils known as Magic 3 were tested in beehives. The release devices were as follows: (1) low density polyethylene (LDPE) sleeves filled with Magic 3, (2) Magic 3-infused florist blocks, (3) thymol infused florist blocks, (4) a canola oil and thymol mixture wick release, (5) a plastic strip coated with calcium carbonate and Magic 3, and (6) an untreated control. There were significant decreases in varroa levels with the use of Magic 3 sleeves, but brood levels also decreased. Tracheal mite levels significantly decreased with the Magic 3 sleeve treatment, the Magic 3 florist block treatment, and the thymol canola wick treatment. A second experiment showed that changing the location of Magic 3 sleeves in the colony did not detrimentally effect brood levels, but also did not effectively control varroa mites.