Essential oils and formic acid as good elements in the integrated management of parasite varroamite Varroa destructor (anderson and trueman)‎ in honey bee colonies

الملخص EN

Essential oils and organic acids offer alternative methods to synthetic acaricides for the control of V.destructor (Anderson and Trueman).They are generally inexpensive and haven’t health risks.

Six essential oils (Marjoram; Majorana hortensis; Black cumin Nigella sativa; Castor Ricinus communis; Lavender Lvandula agustifolia; Spearmint Mentha viridis; Rosemary oil Rosmarinus officinalis) and Formic acid alone and their mixtures were evaluated against Varroa destructor and the side effects on the honey bee Apis mellifera was determined.

Results showed that the highest reduction of the Varroa population parasite on adult bees (90.4, 85.6,81.9 reduction%) were resulted by treatment with Formic acid and Marjoram mixture at the rates of 3,2 and 1ml /colony followed by Spearmint mixture with Formic acid (77.0,72.8 %) at 3ml/colony, Formic acid alone at 3 ml/colony (77.5%) and marjoram (71.9%).Also, the highest reduction percentage in brood infestation (75.9%) was obtained when the colonies treated with Formic acid followed by Marjoram, (58.6%).

Adverse effect including bee mortality foundin some treatments, especially those with formic acid alone and spearmint.

Based on this study, treatment with essential oil of Marjoram or its mixture with Formic acid are generally sufficient to maintain mite populations below the economic injury level without side effect on honey bee colonies,therefore, it can incorporate with other measures for limiting mite populations, into an integrated pest management strategy for control of Varroa jacobsoni.