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Determination of the Efficacy of Thymol, Eucalyptus and Oxalic Acid in the Control of Varroosis in Honey Bees

Year 2024, Volume: 13 Issue: 1, 45 - 50, 20.03.2024
https://doi.org/10.53424/balikesirsbd.1339642

Abstract

Objective: The subject of our study is to determine the efficacies of the natural products such as thyme oil, eucalyptus oil, and oxalic acid against Varroa destructor ectoparasite, which is widely observed in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies both in our country and worldwide Materials and Methods: The study was designed as five groups and these groups were separated into Group 1 (oxalic acid), Group 2 (thyme), Group 3 (eucalyptus), Group 4 (positive control), and Group 5 (negative control). Seven honey bee colonies were included in each group. The first, second, and third groups were designed as the treatment groups and the last two groups were kept as positive and negative control groups. Each group consisted of seven hives. In the treatment groups; oxalic acid was dissolved in glycerin, and thyme and eucalyptus oils were dissolved in ethyl alcohol and absorbed into special towels. Two pieces of special towels per beehive were placed on to the frames in the beehives. The treatments applied weekly for three weeks during September. The treatment efficiencies calculated with the Henderson-Tilton formula and the General Linear Model procedure determined the statistical differences between the oxalic acid, thyme oil, and eucalyptus oil treatment groups. Results: The treatment efficiencies determined as 91.74%, 82.25%, and 79.2% in oxalic acid, thyme oil, and eucalyptus oil treatment groups, respectively. Conclusion: The findings revealed that completely natural herbal extracts and oxalic acid can be used instead of synthetic chemical drugs against Varroosis. Toxication and unnatural deaths were not observed in honey bees throughout the trials.
Keywords: Varroosis, Oxalic acid, Thyme, Eucalyptus.

References

  • Adjlane, N., Tarek, E., & Haddad, N.J. (2016). Evaluation of oxalic acid treatments against the mite Varroa destructor and secondary effects on honey bees Apis mellifera. Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases, 10, 501 - 509.
  • Adjlane, N., Smaoui, R., & Haddad, N.J. (2020). Study of the efficacy of oxalic acid and Thymovar (thymol) against the parasitic mite of the honey bee, Varroa destructor. Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, 13, 87-94. https://doi.org/10.21608/eajbsa.2020.120604
  • Bahreini, R., Tahmasebi, G. H., Nowzari, J., & Talebi, M. (2004). A study of the efficacy of formic acid in controlling Varroa destructor and its correlation with temperature in Iran. Journal of Apicultural Research, 43(4), 158-161. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2004. 11101129.
  • Calderone, N. W., Shimanuki, H., & Allen-Wardell, G. (1994). An in vitro evaluation of botanical compounds for the control of the honeybee pathogens Bacillus larvae and Ascosphaera apis, and the secondary invader B. alvei. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 6(3), 279-287. https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9698376.
  • Chandel, R. K., Nebapure, S. M., Sharma, M., Subramanian, S., Srivastava, C., & Khurana, S. M. (2021). Insecticidal and repellent activities of eucalyptus oil against lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius). Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences, 525-529. https://doi.org/10.15414/jmbfs.2019/20.9.3.525529.
  • Charriere, J. D., & Imdorf, A. (2002). Oxalic acid treatment by trickling against Varroa destructor: recommendations for use in central Europe and under temperate climate conditions. Bee World, 83(2), 51-60. https://doi.org/10. 1080/0005772X.2002.11099541.
  • Collins, L. M., Dziak, J. J., & Li, R. (2009). Design of experiments with multiple independent variables: A resource management perspective on complete and reduced factorial designs. Psychological Methods, 14, 202-224. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015826
  • Conti, B., Bocchino, R., Cosci, F., Ascrizzi, R., Flamini, G., & Bedini, S. (2020). Essential oils against Varroa destructor: A soft way to fight the parasitic mite of Apis mellifera. Journal of Apicultural Research, 59(5), 774-782. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2020.1790790
  • Dietemann, V., Nazzi, F., Martin, S. J., Anderson, D. L., Locke, B., Delaplane, K. S., et al. (2013). Standard methods for varroa research. Journal of apicultural research, 52(1), 1-54. https://doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1. 52.1.09.
  • Durand T, Bonjour-Dalmon A, Dubois E. (2023). Viral co-infections and antiviral immunity in honey bees. Viruses. 15(5), 1217. https://doi.org/10.3390/v15051217
  • Emsen, B., Guzman-Novoa, E., & Kelly, P. G. (2014). Honey production of honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies with high and low Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) infestation rates in eastern Canada. The Canadian Entomologist, 146(2), 236-240. https:// doi.org/10.4039/tce.2013.68.
  • Escobar, A., Perez, M., Romanelli, G., & Blustein, G. (2020). Thymol bioactivity: A review focusing on practical applications. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 13(12), 9243-9269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2020.11.009.
  • Girişgin, A. O., & Aydın, L. (2010). Efficacies of formic, oxalic and lactic acids against Varroa destructor in naturally infested honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies in Turkey. Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 16(6), 941-945.
  • Hanoğlu, D. Y., Hanoğlu, A., Adediran, S. B., Baser, K. H. C., & Özkum Yavuz, D. (2022). The essential oil compositions of two Eucalyptus sp. (E. camaldulensis D ehnh. and E. torquata L uehm.) naturalized to Cyprus. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.2022.2147592.
  • Hýbl, M., Bohatá, A., Rádsetoulalová, I., Kopecký, M., Hoštičková, I., Vaníčková, A., & Mráz, P. (2021). Evaluating the efficacy of 30 different essential oils against Varroa destructor and honey bee workers (Apis mellifera). Insects, 12(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/ insects12111045
  • McMenamin, A. J., & Genersch, E. (2015). Honey bee colony losses and associated viruses. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 8, 121-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois. 2015.01.015.
  • Rademacher, E., & Harz, M. (2006). Oxalic acid for the control of varroosis in honey bee colonies–a review. Apidologie, 37(1), 98-120. https://doi.org/10. 1051/apido:2005063.
  • Sabahi, Q., Morfin, N., Emsen, B., Gashout, H. A., Kelly, P. G., Otto, S., et al. (2020). Evaluation of Dry and Wet Formulations of Oxalic Acid, Thymol, and Oregano Oil for Varroa Mite (Acari: Varroidae) Control in Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colonies. Journal of Economic Entomology, 113(6), 2588–2594. https:// doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa218.
  • Umpiérrez, M.L., Santos, E., González, A., & Rossini, C. (2011). Plant essential oils as potential control agents of varroatosis. Phytochemistry Reviews, 10, 227-244. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-010-9182-0
Year 2024, Volume: 13 Issue: 1, 45 - 50, 20.03.2024
https://doi.org/10.53424/balikesirsbd.1339642

Abstract

References

  • Adjlane, N., Tarek, E., & Haddad, N.J. (2016). Evaluation of oxalic acid treatments against the mite Varroa destructor and secondary effects on honey bees Apis mellifera. Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases, 10, 501 - 509.
  • Adjlane, N., Smaoui, R., & Haddad, N.J. (2020). Study of the efficacy of oxalic acid and Thymovar (thymol) against the parasitic mite of the honey bee, Varroa destructor. Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, 13, 87-94. https://doi.org/10.21608/eajbsa.2020.120604
  • Bahreini, R., Tahmasebi, G. H., Nowzari, J., & Talebi, M. (2004). A study of the efficacy of formic acid in controlling Varroa destructor and its correlation with temperature in Iran. Journal of Apicultural Research, 43(4), 158-161. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2004. 11101129.
  • Calderone, N. W., Shimanuki, H., & Allen-Wardell, G. (1994). An in vitro evaluation of botanical compounds for the control of the honeybee pathogens Bacillus larvae and Ascosphaera apis, and the secondary invader B. alvei. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 6(3), 279-287. https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9698376.
  • Chandel, R. K., Nebapure, S. M., Sharma, M., Subramanian, S., Srivastava, C., & Khurana, S. M. (2021). Insecticidal and repellent activities of eucalyptus oil against lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius). Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences, 525-529. https://doi.org/10.15414/jmbfs.2019/20.9.3.525529.
  • Charriere, J. D., & Imdorf, A. (2002). Oxalic acid treatment by trickling against Varroa destructor: recommendations for use in central Europe and under temperate climate conditions. Bee World, 83(2), 51-60. https://doi.org/10. 1080/0005772X.2002.11099541.
  • Collins, L. M., Dziak, J. J., & Li, R. (2009). Design of experiments with multiple independent variables: A resource management perspective on complete and reduced factorial designs. Psychological Methods, 14, 202-224. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015826
  • Conti, B., Bocchino, R., Cosci, F., Ascrizzi, R., Flamini, G., & Bedini, S. (2020). Essential oils against Varroa destructor: A soft way to fight the parasitic mite of Apis mellifera. Journal of Apicultural Research, 59(5), 774-782. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2020.1790790
  • Dietemann, V., Nazzi, F., Martin, S. J., Anderson, D. L., Locke, B., Delaplane, K. S., et al. (2013). Standard methods for varroa research. Journal of apicultural research, 52(1), 1-54. https://doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1. 52.1.09.
  • Durand T, Bonjour-Dalmon A, Dubois E. (2023). Viral co-infections and antiviral immunity in honey bees. Viruses. 15(5), 1217. https://doi.org/10.3390/v15051217
  • Emsen, B., Guzman-Novoa, E., & Kelly, P. G. (2014). Honey production of honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies with high and low Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) infestation rates in eastern Canada. The Canadian Entomologist, 146(2), 236-240. https:// doi.org/10.4039/tce.2013.68.
  • Escobar, A., Perez, M., Romanelli, G., & Blustein, G. (2020). Thymol bioactivity: A review focusing on practical applications. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 13(12), 9243-9269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2020.11.009.
  • Girişgin, A. O., & Aydın, L. (2010). Efficacies of formic, oxalic and lactic acids against Varroa destructor in naturally infested honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies in Turkey. Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 16(6), 941-945.
  • Hanoğlu, D. Y., Hanoğlu, A., Adediran, S. B., Baser, K. H. C., & Özkum Yavuz, D. (2022). The essential oil compositions of two Eucalyptus sp. (E. camaldulensis D ehnh. and E. torquata L uehm.) naturalized to Cyprus. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.2022.2147592.
  • Hýbl, M., Bohatá, A., Rádsetoulalová, I., Kopecký, M., Hoštičková, I., Vaníčková, A., & Mráz, P. (2021). Evaluating the efficacy of 30 different essential oils against Varroa destructor and honey bee workers (Apis mellifera). Insects, 12(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/ insects12111045
  • McMenamin, A. J., & Genersch, E. (2015). Honey bee colony losses and associated viruses. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 8, 121-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois. 2015.01.015.
  • Rademacher, E., & Harz, M. (2006). Oxalic acid for the control of varroosis in honey bee colonies–a review. Apidologie, 37(1), 98-120. https://doi.org/10. 1051/apido:2005063.
  • Sabahi, Q., Morfin, N., Emsen, B., Gashout, H. A., Kelly, P. G., Otto, S., et al. (2020). Evaluation of Dry and Wet Formulations of Oxalic Acid, Thymol, and Oregano Oil for Varroa Mite (Acari: Varroidae) Control in Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colonies. Journal of Economic Entomology, 113(6), 2588–2594. https:// doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa218.
  • Umpiérrez, M.L., Santos, E., González, A., & Rossini, C. (2011). Plant essential oils as potential control agents of varroatosis. Phytochemistry Reviews, 10, 227-244. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-010-9182-0
There are 19 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Post Harvest Horticultural Technologies (Incl. Transportation and Storage)
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Mehmet Özüiçli 0000-0003-3415-2582

Ahmet Onur Girişgin 0000-0002-0020-2708

İhsan Kısadere 0000-0003-0732-0464

Özkan Demirbaş 0000-0001-9548-0227

Yasin Baykalır 0000-0002-9248-6065

Publication Date March 20, 2024
Submission Date August 8, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2024 Volume: 13 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Özüiçli, M., Girişgin, A. O., Kısadere, İ., Demirbaş, Ö., et al. (2024). Determination of the Efficacy of Thymol, Eucalyptus and Oxalic Acid in the Control of Varroosis in Honey Bees. Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 13(1), 45-50. https://doi.org/10.53424/balikesirsbd.1339642

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