Abstract
In this study, the effectiveness of combining various biotechnical methods with thymol was investigated against the mite, Varroa destructor during late summer. Experimental colonies were randomly selected and six study groups were formed with nine colonies in each group. Experimental colonies were created as follows: colonies of renewed queen bees (RQ); colonies in which the queen is trapped on one comb, but worker bees can come and go to carry out their duties (CT); colonies in which ten grams of powdered thymol was added to 90 g of the bee cake, and 100 g of the bee cake with thymol was applied to the colonies (TY); colonies in which the requeen method plus the thymol method were used (RQ+TY); colonies in which the comb trapping method plus the thymol method were used (CT+TY); and untreated control colonies (CC). During the late summer period, the mite infestation level, sealed brood areas, bee population, and effectiveness of applications were determined in the groups. There was no significant difference in the infestation rate, sealed brood areas, and bee populations in the treatment groups before brood interruption. The efficacy of the requeen method, the comb trapping method, the thymol method, the requeen plus thymol method, and comb trapping plus other groups against V. destructor infestation were 40.23, 39.76, 80.45, 98.28 and 97.93%, respectively. These results showed that combining biotechnical methods with thymol is a safe, easy and effective alternative to late summer therapy against V. destructor. Key words: Comb trapping, honey bee, requeening, thymol, Varroa destructor.  
Highlights
The mite Varroa destructor has many deleterious impacts on honey bee colonies (Gunes et al, 2017)
Experimental colonies were created as follows: colonies of renewed queen bees (RQ); colonies in which the queen is trapped on one comb, but worker bees can come and go to carry out their duties (CT); colonies in which ten grams of powdered thymol was added to 90 g of the bee cake, and 100 g of the bee cake with thymol was applied to the colonies (TY); colonies in which the requeen method plus the thymol method were used (RQ+TY); colonies in which the comb trapping method plus the thymol method were used (CT+TY); and untreated control colonies (CC)
The efficacy of the requeen method, the comb trapping method, the thymol method, the requeen plus thymol method, and comb trapping plus other groups against V. destructor infestation were 40.23, 39.76, 80.45, 98.28 and 97.93%, respectively. These results showed that combining biotechnical methods with thymol is a safe, easy and effective alternative to late summer therapy against V. destructor
Summary
The mite Varroa destructor has many deleterious impacts on honey bee colonies (Gunes et al, 2017). Mite infestation in honey bee colonies needs to be constantly controlled by acaricides. Synthetic compounds such as coumaphos, amitraz, fluvalanite and flumethrin have been used against mite invasion. These synthetic compounds leave residues in honey and honey wax, and mites gradually develop resistance to their active ingredient over time (Wallner, 1999; Medici et al, 2015).
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