| Term : | Spring 2025 |
| Degree : | M.Sc. |
| Degree type : | Thesis |
| Department : | Department of Chemistry |
| Faculty : | Science |
| Academic supervisor (or academic co-supervisor) : | Plettner, Erika |
| Thesis title : | Monitoring residues and vapors of the acaricide 1-allyloxy-4-propoxybenze in beehives |
| Author name : | Xinyi Feng |
| Abstract : | The behavior and environmental persistence of the acaricide 1-allyoxy-4-propoxy benzene, known as 3c{3,6}, within beehives were monitored using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) across three different regions in North America. Since the mite Varroa destructor poses the greatest threat to bee health and colony loss and has developed resistance to approved chemical treatments, 3c{3,6} is emerging as a promising treatment against the mites. Based on the dose applied to the release devices and the post-treatment analysis of its remaining residues, the average release rate of 3c{3,6} in hives was 190 mg/day over a period of 42 days. The volatile 3c{3,6} in vapors was captured by sorbent-filled cartridges which were placed on the bottom board of the treated hives. The capture rate demonstrated that 3c{3,6} primarily evaporated in the first two or three weeks of the treatment. However, the capture rate of 3c{3,6} vapors decreased significantly during later stages of the treatment or after removal of the release devices, while traces of 3c{3,6} in the air disappeared completely overwinter. Wax samples from treated colonies were analyzed for residues of 3c{3,6}. The extraction method for wax samples was optimized by freezing-out overnight and further cleanup with multiple sorbents. The approach has been validated by the evaluation of matrix effects, recovery, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ). The LOD and LOQ of 3c{3,6} in beeswax were 0.1 ppm and 0.32 ppm, respectively. From the field trial in British Columbia 2023, the average residue from wax samples taken immediately after treatment was 6.1 ppm, demonstrating that 3c{3,6} can accumulate in hydrophobic beeswax. Follow-up analysis revealed that 80% of the compound dissipated within 225 days, and complete degradation or disappearance, below the limit of quantification, occurred within approximately a year. |
| Keywords : | Acaricide; Honeybee; Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS); Residues; Vapors; Beeswax; Matrix effects; Recovery; Limit of detection (LOD); Limit of quantification (LOQ) |
| Total pages : | 140 |