EFFICIENCY OF SOME BOTANICALS AGAINST Varroa destructor INFESTING HONEYBEE COLONIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON BROOD REARING ACTIVITY AND CLOVER HONEY YIELD

Abstract

This work is a study to evaluate the effect of some botanicals-based food mixturesadded to sucrose syrup and offered to honeybee colonies on the development of Varroa infestation,brood rearing activity and clover honey yield during 2016/2017. The experiments were performed inthe apiary of Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University. Summarized results are as follow: The rate ofVarroa infestation increased gradually during summer season until recording the highest value inNovember. The food mixture composed of lemon juice + garlic extract reduced significantly the rateof Varroa infestation as compared to the control in all seasons of the year by 37.02-55.40%. Themixtures composed of parnove extract + orange juice and thyme extract + orange juice reducedsignificantly the rate of Varroa infestation during the period extended from February to August,recording the range of 35.82 – 45.47 and 34.78-48.13% reduction, respectively. The highest broodarea (inch2) was recorded during summer season followed closely by that of spring season, whereasthe least activity was noticed in autumn season. The food mixture composed of lemon juice + garlicextract induced the highest brood rearing activity in all seasons of the year. The mixture of parnoveextract + orange juice came in the second class. On the other hand, the mixture composed of thymeextract + orange juice showed the least brood rearing activity, being lower than the control. The meanclover honey yield recorded 5.00, 1.70, 6.50 and 4.00 kg/colony in 2016; 3.90, 2.00, 5.60 and 1.50kg/colony in 2017 which offered the additive mixtures of parnove extract + orange juice, thymeextract + orange juice, lemon juice + garlic extract and sucrose syrup (control), respectively. Therespective two years mean clover honey yield recorded 4.45, 1.85, 6.05 and 2.75 kg/colony.