Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biological activity of some plant essential oils against Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae), an ectoparasitic mite of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

  • Published:
Experimental and Applied Acarology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to evaluate acaricidal activity of the essential oils of Thymus kotschyanus, Ferula assa-foetida and Eucalyptus camaldulensis against Varroa destructor under laboratory conditions. Moreover, fumigant toxicity of these oils was tested on Apis mellifera. After preliminary dose-setting experiments, mites and honey bees were exposed to different concentrations of the oil, with 10 h exposure time. Essential oil of T. kotschyanus appeared the most potent fumigant for V. destructor (LC50 = 1.07, 95% confidence limit (CL) = 0.87–1.26 μl/l air), followed by E. camaldulensis (LC50 = 1.74, 95% CL = 0.96–2.50 μl/l air). The lowest acaricidal activity (LC50 = 2.46, 95% CL = 2.10–2.86 μl/l air) was attributed to essential oil of F. assa-foetida. Surprisingly, among the three oils tested, essential oil of T. kotschyanus had the lowest insecticidal activity against A. mellifera (LC50 = 5.08, 95% CL = 4.54–5.06 μl/l air). These findings proved that essential oil of T. kotschyanus has potential of practical value for use as alternative acaricide in the management of varroa in apiaries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ariana A, Ebadi R, Tahmasbi GH (2002) Laboratory evaluation of some plant essences to control Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae). Exp Appl Acarol 27:319–327

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baker MD, Peng CYS (1995) Varroa jacobsoni and Tropilaelaps clareae: a perspective of life history and why Asian bee mite preferred european honey bees. Am Bee J 135:415–420

    Google Scholar 

  • Bollhalder F (1998) Thymovar for Varroa control. Schweiz Bienen-Zeitung 121:148–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowen-Walker PL, Gunn A (2001) The effect of the ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor on adult worker honeybee (Apis mellifera) emergence weights, water, protein, carbohydrate, and lipid levels. Entomol Exp Appl 101:207–217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calderone NW, Spivak M (1995) Plant extracts for control of the parasitic mite Varroa jacobsoni (Acari: Varroidae) in colonies of the western honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae). J Econ Entomol 88:1211–1215

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiasson H, Vincent C, Bostanian NJ (2004) Insecticidal properties of a Chenopodium-based botanical. J Econ Entomol 97:1378–1383

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiesa F (1991) Effective control of varroatosis using powdered thymol. Apidologie 22:135–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi WI, Lee SG, Park HM, Ahn YJ (2004) Toxicity of plant essential oils to Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae). J Econ Entomol 97:553–558

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cimanga K, Kambu K, Tona L, Apers S, De Bruyne T, Hermans N, Totte J, Pieters L, Vlietnck AJ (2002) Correlation between chemical composition and antibactrial activity of essential oils of some aromatic medicinal plants growing in the Democratic republic of Congo. J Ethnopharmacol 79:213–220

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Colin ME (1990) Essential oils of Labiatae for controlling honey bee varroosis. J Appl Entomol 110:19–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colin ME, Ciavarella F, Otero-Colina G, Belzunces LP (1994) A method for characterizing the biological activity of essential oils against Varroa jacobsoni. In: Matheson A (ed) New perspectives on Varroa, Int Bee Res Assoc. Cardiff, UK, pp 109–114

  • Dejong D, Dejong PH, Goncalves LS (1982) Weight loss and other damage to developing worker honey bees from infestation with Varroa jacobsoni. J Apic Res 1:165–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Dimetry NZ, Abd El-wahab TE, Zakaria ME (2005) Effective control of Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman infesting honey bee colonies Apis mellifera L. by some natural products. Bull Facul Agric Cairo Univ 56:295–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Elzen PJ, Eischen FA, Baxter JR, Elzen GW, Wilson WT (1999) Detection of resistance in US Varroa jacobsoni Oud. (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) to the acaricide fluvalinate. Apidologie 30:13–17

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elzen PJ, Baxter JR, Elzen GW, Rivera R, Wilson WT (2000) Evaluation of grapefruit essential oils for controlling Varroa jacobsoni Oud. Infesting honey bee colonies. J Agric Sci Mansoura Univ 26:1055–1061

    Google Scholar 

  • Enan E (2001) Insecticidal activity of essential oils: octopaminergic sites of action. Comp Biochem Physiol 130:325–337

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gal H, Slabezki Y, Lensky Y (1992) A preliminary report on the effect of origanum oil and thymol applications in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies in a subtropical climate on population levels of Varroa jacobsoni. Bee Sci 2:175–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardman HF, Moore JI, Lum BKB (1959) A method for analyzing the effect of PH and ionization of drugs upon cardiac tissue with special reference to pentabarbitol. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 126:136–142

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Imdorf A, Bogdanov S, Kilchenmann V, Maquelin C (1995a) APILIF VAR-A new varroacide with thymol as the main ingredient. Bee World 76:77–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Imdorf A, Kilchenmann V, Bogdanov S, Bachofen B, Beretta C (1995b) Toxic effects of thymol, camphor, menthol and eucalyptol on Varroa jacobsoni Oud. and Apis mellifera L. in a laboratory test. Apidologie 26:27–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Imdorf A, Bogdanov S, Ibañez Ochoa R, Calderone NW (1999) Use of essential oils for the control of Varroa jacobsoni in honey bee colonies. Apidologie 30:209–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Imdorf A, Bogdanov S, Kilchenmann V, Berger T (2006) Toxic effects of essential oils and some of their components on Varroa destructor Oud. and Apis mellifera L under laboratory conditions. ALP Sci 495:3–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraus B, Koeinger N, Fuchs S (1994) Screening of substances for their effect on Varroa jacobsoni: attractiveness, repellency, toxicity and masking effects of ethereal oils. J Apic Res 33:34–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuperman AS, Gill EW, Riker WF (1961) The relationship between cholinesterase inhibition and drug-induced facilitation of mammalian neuromuscular transmission. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 132:65–73

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee BH, Annis PC, Tumaalii F, Choi WS (2004) Fumigant toxicity of essential oils from the Myrtaceae family and 1, 8-cineol against 3 major stored-grain insects. J Stored Prod Res 40:553–564

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Melathopoulos AP, Winston ML, Whittington R, Smith T, Lindberg C, Mukai A, Moore M (2000) Comparative laboratory toxicity of neem pesticides to honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae), their mite parasites Varroa jacobsoni (Acari: Varroidae) and Acarapis woodi (Acari: Tarsonemidae) and brood pathogens Paenibacillus larvae and Ascophaera apis. J Econ Entomol 93:199–209

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Milani N (1995) The resistance of Varroa jacobsoni Oud. to pyrethroids: a laboratory assay. Apidologie 26:415–429

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nassar ME, Abu Mustafa A, Ahmed A (1995) Sesquiterpene coumarins from Ferula assa-foetida L. Pharmazie 50:766–767

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Negahban M, Moharramipour S, Sefidkon F (2006) Insecticidal activity and chemical composition of Artemisia sieberi Besser essential oil from Karaj, Iran. J Asia Pac Entomol 9:61–66

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Negahban M, Moharramipour S, Sefidkon F (2007) Fumigant toxicity of essential oil from Artemisia sieberi Besser against three stored-product insects. J Stored Prod Res 43:123–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson JL, Rappaport NG (1979) Direct, indirect and residual toxicity of insecticide sprays to western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Can Entomol 111:1219–1226

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson JL, Russell RM, Preisler HK, Savin NE (2007) Bioassays with Arthropods. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruffinengo S, Eguaras M, Floris I, Faverin C, Bailac P, Ponzi M (2005) LD50 and repellent effects of essential oils from Argentinian wild plant species on Varroa destructor. J Econ Entomol 98:651–655

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruffinengo S, Maggi M, Faverin C, Garcia DSB, Bailac P, Principal J, Eguaras M (2007) Essential oils toxicity related to Varroa destructor and Apis mellifera under laboratory conditions. Zootec Trop 25:63–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Safaei-Ghomi J, Meshkatalsadat MH, Shamai S, Hasheminejad M, Hasani A (2009) Chemical characterization of bioactive volatile molecules of four Thymus species using nonsocial injection method. Dig J Nanomater Bios 4:835–841

    Google Scholar 

  • Sammataro D, Degrandi-Hoffman G, Needham G, Wardell G (1998) Some volatile plant oils as potential control agents for Varroa mites (Acari: Varroidae) in honey bee colonies (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Am Bee J 138:681–685

    Google Scholar 

  • Schenk P, Imdorf A, Fluri P (2001) Effects of neem oil on Varroa mites and bees. Am Bee J 141:878–879

    Google Scholar 

  • Su YC, Ho CL, Wang EIC, Chang ST (2006) Antifungal activities and chemical compositions of essential oils from leaves of four eucalypts. Taiwan J For Sci 21:49–61

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tapondjou LA, Alder C, Bouda H, Fonten DA (2002) Efficacy of powder and essential oil from Chenopodium ambrosioidies leaves as post-harvest grain protectants against six-stored products beetles. J Stored Prod Res 38:395–402

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wallner K (1999) Varroacides and their residues in bee products. Apidologie 30:235–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wittington R, Winson ML, Melathopoulos AP, Higo HA (2000) Evaluation of the botanical oils neem, thymol and canola sprayed to control Varroa jacobsoni Oud. (Acari: Varroidae) and Acarapis woodi (Acari: Rarsonemidae) in colonies of honey bees (Apis mellifera L., Hymenoptera: Apidae). Am Bee J 140:567–572

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, PO Box 14115-336, Tehran, Iran

    Vahid Ghasemi & Saeid Moharramipour

  2. Department of Honeybee Research, Animal Science Research Institute, Karaj, Iran

    Gholamhosein Tahmasbi

Authors
  1. Vahid Ghasemi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Saeid Moharramipour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gholamhosein Tahmasbi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Saeid Moharramipour.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ghasemi, V., Moharramipour, S. & Tahmasbi, G. Biological activity of some plant essential oils against Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae), an ectoparasitic mite of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Exp Appl Acarol 55, 147–154 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-011-9457-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-011-9457-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation