Advances in the study of the toxicity of propolis alcoholic extracts on Varroa destructor and Apis mellifera.

DAMIANI N.; MAGGI M.D.; GENDE L.B.; FAVERIN C; CROUZAT V; EGUARAS M. J.; MARCANGELI J. A

Montpellier, Francia.

Congreso; 41º Apimondia; 2009

Apimondia

The effects of a propolis alcoholic extract on Varroa destructor and Apis mellifera were evaluated by different application methods: topical, spraying and oral. The propolis sample was analyzed organoleptic and physic-chemically according to the IRAM-INTA norms protocol and the results showed that it was a typical propolis of Pampean Region from Argentina with elevated content of biologically active compounds. For all experiments, a propolis alcoholic extract at different concentrations (up to 20%) was elaborated and, adult female mites and worker bees were used. In a first assay, mortality and narcosis effects were observed on the mites topically treated with propolis extracts. Treatment with 10% propolis solution by spraying of bees with mites attached resulted harmless for bees but till 78 % of mites mortality was registered. However, when propolis sugar solution was orally administered on bees mortality effects on the mites were not observed, but higher doses produced high bee mortality, indicating that feeding bees with a propolis extract is unlikely to be effective. Our results suggest that the propolis extracts from Pampean Region could be incorporated into the bees colonies by spraying, although still remain to adjust the potential doses and concentrations to be administered and the mechanism of action of the extracts on the mites.