J Agric Food Chem. 1999 Sep;47(9):3850-3.

Development of a gel formulation of formic acid for control of parasitic mites of honey bees.

Kochansky J1, Shimanuki H.

• 1USDA ARS, Bee Research Laboratory, Building 476, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center-East, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350, USA. jkochans@asrr.arsusda.gov

Abstract

Formic acid has been used in various countries for the control of parasitic mites of honey bees (Apis mellifera), particularly the Varroa mite (Varroa jacobsoni) and the tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi). Its corrosivity and consequent fear of liability have precluded commercial interest in the United States, and its rapid vaporization requires frequent reapplication.

........The strong acidity of formic acid restricts the choice of gelling agents; vegetable gellants such as agar are destroyed, and bentonite clay derivatives do not gel, even with high-shear mixing. Polyacrylamides lead to viscous liquids lacking thixotropic properties. PMID: 10552733

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Wikipedia

Formic acid (also called methanoic acid) is the simplest carboxylic acid. The chemical formula is HCOOH or HCO2H. It is an important intermediate in chemical synthesis and occurs naturally, most notably in some ants. The word "formic" comes from the Latin word for ant, formica, referring to its early isolation by the distillation of ant bodies. Esters, salts, and the anions derived from formic acid are called formates.

In nature, it is found in certain ants and in the trichomes of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). Formic acid is a naturally occurring component of the atmosphere due primarily to forest emissions.