Skip to main content

Evaluation of the impact of Exomite Pro™ on Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) populations and honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies: efficacy, side effects and residues

Parasitology Research volume 113, pages 1251–1259 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

In this research, we examined the application of thymol-based powder, directly over the top of the brood frames in colonies with different population in a 2-year study. The efficacy against mites, the side effects on bees and the contamination of honey were studied comparably to thymol-based gel treatment. In one-store colonies, thymol-based powder treatment gave average efficacy 64.5 % and did not differ significantly from thymol-based gel treatment (65.4 %). The natural mortality in control colonies was 41.4 % and the corrected efficacy (E T) during 2 years was 39.4 and 40.9 %, respectively. In two-store bee colonies, the application of thymol-based powder on top of each hive body gave higher E T (45,4 %) than on top of the double body hive (40.4 %), without statistically significant differences. The average concentration of thymol residues in honey 24 days after the application was 368 and 1,119 μg kg−1 for the honey of colonies treated with thymol-based powder and thymol-base gel, respectively.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1

References

  • Argena N (2013) Control of Varroa mite (Varroa destructor Anderson and Truman) by removing drone brood. M.Sc Thesis, School of Agriculture, Aristotelian University Thessaloniki, Greece. p70

  • Armsworth CG, Baxter IH, Barton LE, Poppy GM, Nansen C (2006) Effects of adhesive powders on the mating and flight behavior of Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae). J Econ Entomol 99(4):1194–1202

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton L, Armsworth C, Baxter I, Poppy G, Gaunt L, Nansen C (2006) Adhesive powder uptake and transfer by Mediterranean fruit flies, Geratitis capitata (Dipt., Tephritidae). J Appl Entomol 130(5):257–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baxter IH, Howard N, Armsworth CG, Barton LEE, Jackson C (2008) The potential of two electrostatic powders as the basis for an autodissemination control method of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner). J Stored Prod Res 2:152–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bogdanov S, Kilchenmann V (1995) Acaricide residues in beeswax: long-term studies in Switzerland. Apidologie 26(4):320–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogdanov S, Imdorf A, Kilchenmann V (1998) Residues in wax and honey after Apilife VAR® treatment. Apidologie 29(6):513–524

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bogdanov S, Kilchenmann V, Fluri P, Buhler U, Lavanchy P (1999) Influence of organic acids and components of essential oils on honey taste. Am Bee J 139(1):61–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Boncristiani H, Underwood R, Schwarz R, Evans J-D, Pettis J, VanEngelsdorp D (2012) Direct effect of acaricides on pathogen loads and gene expression levels in honey bees Apis mellifera. J Insect Physiol 58(5):613–620

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burns RE, Hayes GW Jr, Westervelt DA, Diaz JD (2005) Florida test of the Exosect Apis System for control of Varroa mites. Am Bee J 145(4):305–307

    Google Scholar 

  • Busvine RJ (1971) Chapter XIII 263–288. In A Critical Review of the Techniques for Testing Insecticides. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux pp. 345

  • Calderone NW (1999) Evaluation of formic acid and a thymol-based blend of natural products for the fall control of Varroa jacobsoni (Acari:Varroidae) in colonies of Apis meliifera (Hymenoptera:Apidae). J Econ Entomol 92(2):253–260

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carayon JL, Téné N, Bonnafé E, Alayrangues J, Hotier L, Armengaud C, Treilhou M (2013) Thymol as an alternative to pesticides: persistence and effects of Apilife Var on the phototactic behavior of the honeybee Apis mellifera. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. (in press)

  • Charpentier G, Vidau C, Ferdy JB, Tabart J, Vetillard A (2013) Lethal and sub-lethal effects of thymol on honeybee (Apis mellifera) larvae reared in vitro. Pest Manag Sci. doi:10.1002/ps.3539

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Charriere J-D, Imdorf A (2002) Oxalic acid treatment by trickling against Varroa destructor: recommendations for use in central Europe and under temperate climate conditions. Bee World 83:51–60

    Google Scholar 

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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coffey MF (2007) Biotechnical methods in colony management, and the use of Apiguard® and Exomite™ Apis for the control of the varroa mite (Varroa destructor) in Irish honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies. J Apic Res Bee World 46(4):213–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colin ME, Ducos de Lahitle J, Larribau E, Boue T (1989) Activite des huiles essentielles de Labiees sur Ascosphaera apis et traitement d’un rucher. Apidologie 20(3):221–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crobov OF, Mikitiuk VC, Guseva LN (1981) Thymol, a substance with a wide spectrum of action. Apiacta 16(2):64–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Damiani N, Gende LB, Maggi MD, Palacios S, Marcangeli JA, Eguaras MJ (2009) Acaricidal and insecticidal activity of essential oils on Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) and Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Parasitol Res 106:145–152

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Damiani N, Gende LB, Maggi MD, Palacios S, Marcangeli JA, Eguaras MJ (2011) Repellent and acaricidal effects of botanical extracts on Varroa destructor. Parasitol Res 108:79–86

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donders JNLC, Cornelissen B, Blacquière T (2006) Varroa control preceeding honey flow; Thymol and formic acid residue. Proc Neth Entomol Soc Meet 17:141–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis MD, Baxendale FP (1997) Toxicity of seven monoterpenoids to tracheal mites (Acari:Tarsonomidae) and their honey bee (Hymenoptera:Apidae) host when applied as fumigants. J Econ Entomol 90(5):1087–1091

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Emsen BE, Dodologlu Α (2011) Efficacy of different organic compounds against bee mite (Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman) in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies. J Anim Vet Adv 10(6):802–805

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goras G, Karazafiris E, Kanelis D, Ioannidou M, Mengissoglu-Spiroudi U, Thrasyvoulou A (2006) Assessment of residues detected in royal jelly after the application of registered synthetic acaricides. European Pesticides Residue Workshop, Corfu, 21–25 May

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregorc A, Jelenc J (1996) Control of Varroa Jacobsoni Oud. in honeybee colonies using Apilife-Var. Zbornik Veterinarske Fakultete, Univerza v Ljubljani 33(2):231–235

  • Gregorc A, Planinc I (2005) The control of Varroa destructor in honey bee colonies using the thymol-based acaricide–Apiguard. Am Bee J 145(8):672–675

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanan AG, Guzmán-Novoa E (2009) Acute toxicity of essential oils and other natural compounds to the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor and to larval and adult worker honey bees. J Apic Res 48(4):263–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang J, Stelinski LL, Gut LJ (2010) Mating behaviour of Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera:Tortricidae) as influenced by sex pheromones in electrostatic powder. J Econ Entomol 103(6):2100–2106

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Floris I, Satta A, Cabras P, Garau VL, Angioni A (2004) Comparison between two thymol formulatonsin the control of Varroa destructor: Effectiveness, persistence and residues. J Econ Entomol 97(2):187–191

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Imdorf A, Bogdanov S, Kilchenmann V, Maquelin C (1995) Apilife Var: a new varroacide with thymol as the main ingredient. Bee World 76(2):77–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Imdorf A, Bogdanov S, Ibanez Ochoa R, Calderone NW (1999) Use of essential oils for the control of Varroa jacobsoni (Oud.) in honey bee colonies. Apidologie 30:209–228

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karazafiris E, Tananaki C, Menkissoglu-Spiroudi U, Diamantidis G, Thrasyvoulou A (2008) Residues distribution of acaricide coumaphos in honey following the application of a new slow release formulation. Pest Manag Sci 64(2):165–171

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleanthus D, Papafotiou M, Christodoulou E, Papandreou G, Thrasyvoulou A (1999) Resistance of Varroa to fluvalinate in Cyprus. Melis Epitheorisis 13(6):260–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraus B, Koeniger G, Fuchs D (1994) Screening of substances for their effect on Varroa jacobsoni: attractiveness, repellency, toxicity and masking effects of ethereal oils. J Apic Res 33(1):34–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Lodesani M, Costa C (2008) Maximizing the efficacy of a thymol based product against the mite Varroa destructor by increasing the air space in the hive. J Apic Res 47(2):113–117

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahmood R, Wagchoure ES, Raja S, Sarwar G, Aslam M (2012) Effect of thymol and formic acid against ectoparasitic brood mite Tropilaelaps clareaein Apis mellifera colonies. Pak J Zool 43(1):91–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Maistrello L, Lodesani M, Costa C, Leonardi F, Marani G, Caldon M, Mutinelli F, Granato A (2008) Screening of natural compounds for the control of nosema disease in honeybees (Apis mellifera). Apidologie 39(4):436–445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mattila HR, Otis GW (2000) The efficacy of Apiguard against varroa and tracheal mites and its effect on honey production: 1999 trial. Am Bee J 140(12):969–973

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattila HR, Otis GW, Daley J, Schulz T (2000) Trials of Apiguard a thymol based miticide. Part 2. Non-target effects on honey bees. Am Bee J 140(1):68–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Melathopoulos AP, Pernal SF, Moller E, Baumgartner W, Guzman-Novoa E (2010) A spring evaluation of thymol formulated in a sucrose dust for the control of Varroa destructor, a parasite of the honey bee. Sci Bee Cult 2(2):2–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Mondet F, Goodwin M, Mercer A (2011) Age-related changes in the behavioural response of honeybees to Apiguard, a thymol-based treatment used to control the mite Varroa destructor. J Comp Physiol A 197(11):1055–1062

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nanetti A, Buchler R, Charriere JD, Fries I, Helland S, Imdorf A, Korpela S, Kristiansen P (2003) Oxalic acid treatments for varroa control (Review). Apiacta 38:81–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Thrasyvoulou A (2005) Thirty years Varroa. Melis Epitheorisis 19(4):206–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Thrasyvoulou A, Tselios D, Adamidis M, Kalistios T, Mayrodimos K (1998) The first indication of Varroa resistant into chemical drugs. Melis Epitheorisis 12(4):173–177

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallner K (1997) In: Report of the Federal Institute of Beekeeping of the University of Hohenheim for the year 1966, ADIZ (3)

  • Yucel B, Dogaroglu M (2005) The impact of Nosema apis Z. infestation of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies after using different treatment methods and their effect on the population levels of workers and honey production on consecutive years. Pak J Biol Sci 8(8):1142–1145

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Disclaimer

Mention of trade names of commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation. The authors declare that they have no conflicting or dual interests.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Apiculture-Sericulture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University, 54006, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Chrysoula Tananaki, Georgios Goras, Nicola Huggett, Emmanouel Karazafiris, Maria Dimou & Andreas Thrasyvoulou

  2. Laboratory of Apiculture-Sericulture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle’s University Farm, 57001, Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Chrysoula Tananaki

Authors
  1. Chrysoula Tananaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Georgios Goras
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nicola Huggett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Emmanouel Karazafiris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Maria Dimou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Andreas Thrasyvoulou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chrysoula Tananaki.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tananaki, C., Goras, G., Huggett, N. et al. Evaluation of the impact of Exomite Pro™ on Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) populations and honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies: efficacy, side effects and residues. Parasitol Res 113, 1251–1259 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-013-3739-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-013-3739-y

Keywords

  • Thymol
  • Honey Sample
  • Amitraz
  • Varroa Destructor
  • Mite Infestation