| Comparative effect of the thymus (Zataria multiflora) and green walnut hull extracts on Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) in two Italian and Iranian subspecies of honey bee (Apis mellifera) |
| Paper ID : 1139-IPCA5 (R2) |
| Authors |
|
Farzad Aslani1, malihe latifi *2, Mohammad Behjatian-Esfahani3 11. Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan 2Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan 32. Naein University of Applied Science and Technology |
| Abstract |
| The Varroa mite is recognized as one of the most serious problems in honey beekeeping worldwide, weakening colonies, spreading viruses, and reducing bee performance. Studies have shown that some plant extracts can safely and naturally control Varroa mites. This study investigated the efficacy of various treatments (oxalic acid, Zataria multiflora Boiss. (Lamiales; Lamiaceae), Juglans regia L. (Fagales: Juglandaceae) extracts and their combinations) for controlling Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) mites in Iranian and Italian honeybee subspecies. The study was conducted in September 2022. 80 beehives (with a distance of 20 cm) containing 5 to 7 frames of population were selected. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized factorial design with eight experimental treatments including distilled water, oxalic acid, Shiraz thyme extract (10 and 20%), green walnut hull (10 and 20%), a combination of Shiraz thyme and green walnut hull extracts (20%), and a mixture of Shiraz thyme and green walnut hull (20%) and oxalic acid. The treatments were applied to two honey bee sub species, Italian and Iranian, separately and were evaluated for three weeks after treatment application. The results of the experiment’s first week showed that the oxalic acid treatment had the highest effect on Varroa mite mortality with 7.66% in the Italian and 23.41% in the Iranian sub species and there was no significant difference in mortality between Shiraz thyme and green walnut hull (20%) compared to oxalic acid in Iranian sub species. In the second week of the experiment, the oxalic acid treatment again had the highest mite mortality in both Iranian (17.38%) and Italian (23.97%) populations. In the third week of the experiment, the mixture of Shiraz thyme, green walnut hull (20%) and oxalic acid had the highest mite mortality in both Iranian (13.96%) and Italian (10.79%) populations. The results showed that although the chemical treatment (oxalic acid) was superior in the short term, over time, the application of thyme essential oil and green walnut hull extract significantly reduced the percentage of mite infestation and was identified as the best treatment in both honey bee sub species. This is the first study that the efficacy of multiple treatments has been compared in two honey bee subspecies. Additionally, these treatments had a positive effect on controlling Varroa mite infestation and honey production without affecting colony health. Therefore, considering the harmful effects of chemicals in Varroa mite control, the use of a combination of Shiraz thyme and green walnut hull extract, is recommended for controlling this mite. |
| Keywords |
| Control, Parasitic mite, Plant extracts |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
