Figure 2. Expected infestation levels of Varroa destructor manipulated using acaricide treatment.

Infestation levels of V. destructor (mites/bee) were manipulated using acaricide treatment applied at different moments (July, August, September or not treated at all). For the expected mite infestation, we used a simplified curve from mite infestation in Figure 1, with an exponential increase in mite infestation until October, after which the infestation remained equal. Efficacy of the acaricide Thymovar (July, August, September) was assumed to be 90%, while efficacy of oxalic acid (December) was assumed to be 95%.