Fluvalinate is a synthetic pyrethroid chemical compound contained as an active agent in the products Apistan, Klartan, and Minadox, that is an acaricide (specifically, a miticide), that is commonly used to control varroa mites in honey bee colonies, infestations that constitute a significant disease of such insects.
Fluvalinate is a stable, non-volatile, fat-soluble compound. Its effectiveness was first demonstrated in France and Israel.[when?]; Although the compound may be found in drones, a study has found honey samples virtually absent of fluvalinate, on account of its affinity to beeswax.[bettersourceneeded]; Tau-fluvalinate (τ-fluvalinate) is the trivial name for (2R)-fluvalinate. The C atom in the valinate structure is in R-absolute configuration, while the second chiral atom is a mixture of R- and S-configurations.