Evaluation and introduction of a plant-based formulation to the control of Varroa mite in the honey bee colonies

Authors

1 Animal Science Department Research, Kurdistan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Sanandaj, Iran

2 Honey bee Research Department, Animal Science Research Institute of Iran, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran

10.22034/hbsj.2024.366033.1167

Abstract

this study aims to investigate the acaricidal and insecticidal activities of different concentrations of Hengwan plant extract on Varroa mite and its host in the honey bee colonies during 2021 to 2023 . Hengwan plant was collected in May 2021 from different regions of Kurdistan province in the flowering stage, identified and then extracted. The present study was performed based on a completely randomized design with six experimental treatments (treatments include concentrations of 20, 35 and 50% of Hengwan extract, one 2.3% oxalic acid treatment and two control treatments (positive and negative) and seven replications. In general, the results of this study showed that all different concentrations of Hengwan extract had favorable acaricidal activities compared to the negative control treatment. Based on the results, the concentration of 50% of the extract of this plant showed the most significant effect on the percentage of Varroa mite mortality in the studied bee colonies compared to the negative control treatment and other different concentrations of the extract of this plant (P<0.01). Also, its difference was not significant in terms of mite mortality percentage compared to oxalic acid treatment. According to the results, the percentage of bee’s mortality was not more than seven percent in any of the experimental treatments except for the oxalic acid treatment. Therefore, it is possible to recommend the concentration of 50% of Hengwan extract as a suitable alternative to synthetic acaricides for controlling Varroa mites in honey bee colonies due to its favorable acaricidal activities and safe for bees.

Keywords

Honeybee Science Journal
Volume 15, Issue 28
July 2024
Pages 19-27

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