P3.10 Proof-of-concept trial of the portable electronic nose PEN3 for detection of formic acid concentration in the beehive
- Event
- 20. GMA/ITG-Fachtagung Sensoren und Messsysteme 2019
2019-06-25 - 2019-06-26
Nürnberg, Germany - Chapter
- P3: Anwendungen
- Author(s)
- C. Tiebe, M. Hofmann - Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Berlin (Deutschland), A. Genath, R. Einspanier - Freie Universität Berlin (Deutschland)
- Pages
- 794 - 799
- DOI
- 10.5162/sensoren2019/P3.10
- ISBN
- 978-3-9819376-0-2
- Price
- free
Abstract
Formic acid (FA) treatment as measure against the ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, which infests the western honey bee, Apis mellifera, is usually performed twice a year. Although the therapeutic index is very narrow and the success of FA-treatment is highly dependent on various external factors, little is known about the local FA concentrations occuring in the hive. In this study we examined whether a commercially available odour measuring device (“electronic nose”) is suitable for measurements of high FA concentrations, as present during treatment. As measuring systems, two different setups were prepared for detection of FA concentrations in gas mixtures: A polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) box was used to investigate whether the electronic nose is able to distinguish between different FA concentrations and a two-storied Segeberger hive to test under realistic conditions during bee-keeping. In both experimental systems, the signals from the same sensor components (sensor type no. 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9) showed an increased sensitivity towards the presence of FA in the gas mixture. Principle component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) allowed for identification of specific patterns in the measurement signals and showed clear correlations between the signals and the present FA concentration. These results indicate that the introduced commercial multi gas sensor system is suitable for detection of high FA concentrations, and therefore could be a starting point developing a detection method of FA. The future aim is to successfully monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of this anti-varroa-treatment.