ESSENTIAL OILS: AN ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE FOR Varroa destructor CONTROL

STEFANAZZI, N; WERDIN GONZÁLEZ, J.O.; GUTIÉRREZ, M.M.; FERRERO A.A.; RODRÍGUEZ, G

Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Simposio; IV Simposio Mundial de Apicultura Orgánica.; 2016

Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) is a parasitic mite of honey bee. It is considered the most serious global threat to beekeeping. Essential oils (EOs) have been suggested as alternative to synthetic miticides, because some are selective, biodegrade to nontoxic products, and have few effects on the environment and low the probability of developing resistant populations.This work evaluates fumigant activity of six EOs from bergamot (Citrus bergamia), geranium (Geranium maculatum), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii) and mint (Mentha piperita) on Varroa destructor and Apis mellifera.Bees and mites were collected from different apiaries from Estación Experimental Agropecuaria INTA Hilario Ascasubi.The fumigant toxicity of EOs was evaluated in an enclosed chamber (400 ml): at the bottom, 10 µl of pure EO were added and covered with a lid with a fine wire sieve; at the top, 15 bees and 10 mites were released. All treatments were replicated four times. The knock down effect (KD) was registered for bees and mites at 1, 2, 3 and 4 h. A Selectivity Index was calculated as SI=%varroa KD / %bees KD. SI values >2 indicates a selective product.The EOs of bergamot, geranium and lavender were selective during the whole experiment. The major SI value was obtained with bergamot oil at 4 h (87% varroa KD, 11% bees KD). These results suggest that the EOs from bergamot, geranium and lavender could play an important role in honey bee parasites management.