Abstract
This study examined the toxicity of anethole and that of the essential oils of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and sweet marigold (Tagetes lucida) to the mite Varroa destructor and to honey bee workers and larvae. Anethole was the most toxic compound to V. destructor (LC50: 304.9 μg/ml), whereas Tagetes oil was the least toxic (LC50: 1256.27 μg/ml). The most and least toxic compounds to worker bees were anethole and Tagetes oil with LD50s of 35942 and 85381 μg/ml, respectively. For larvae, Tagetes oil was the most toxic compound (LD50: 9580.7 μg/ml) and anethole the least toxic (LD50: 14518.0 μg/ml). Anethole and Cymbopogon oil had the highest selectivity ratios. The expression of AChE, a gene that regulates the production of acetyl cholinesterase, a detoxifying enzyme, was not altered in bees treated with the plant compounds at 48 h post-treatment. This study showed that anethole and Cymbopogon oil have potential for controlling Varroa mites and seem to be relatively safe for larvae and adult honey bees.
Highlights
The mite Varroa destructor is responsible for widespread losses of honey bee colonies, in North America [1,2,3,4]
Colonies infested with V. destructor that are treated with miticides produce more honey than untreated colonies [7], but the frequent use of synthetic miticides has resulted in the development of resistance to many of these products in mite populations [8]
This study examined the toxicity of anethole, an aromatic compound of the essential oil of anise (Pimpinella anisum), as well as that of the essential oils of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and sweet scented marigold (Tagetes lucida) to Varroa mites and honey bees
Summary
The mite Varroa destructor is responsible for widespread losses of honey bee colonies, in North America [1,2,3,4]. Colonies infested with V. destructor that are treated with miticides produce more honey than untreated colonies [7], but the frequent use of synthetic miticides has resulted in the development of resistance to many of these products in mite populations [8]. Synthetic miticides may contaminate hive products [9]. Plant essential oils and the components of these substances are attractive miticide candidates for controlling pests and diseases in hives because they meet most of these criteria [10,11,12]. Many essential oils and their components exhibit considerable miticidal activity against V. destructor [10]
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