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

Mehmet Özüiçli , Ahmet Onur Girişgin , İhsan Kısadere , Özkan Demirbaş , Yasin Baykalır

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.

Keywords

Varroosis, Oxalic acid, Thyme, Eucalyptus.

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