Control of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) by using plant oils and extract.

To evaluate the acaricidal effects of some plant oils and tobacco extract on Varroa destructor mites, a study was conducted in laboratory as well as in bee hives at Honeybee Research Institute, NARC, Islamabad. In the lab experiments, clove oil and tobacco extract both proved to be equally effective against mites. The treatments were significantly effective when applied in 5% as compared to 10 and 15% concentrations. The most effective combination was clove oil and tobacco extract when used in 5% concentration for 24 h. In the field experiment all the oils/extract individually and in combinations confirmed clove oil + tobacco extract (T14) the best combination with 96.48±0.52 efficacy. The honey produced in kg was found maximum 20.5±0.29 in treatment T14. The highest number of fallen Varroa mites 381.67±24.31 was also occurred in T14 treatment and difference between the treatments was highly significant. No queens were lost and there was no adult honeybee mortality in any of the colonies during the experiment. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was applied to all laboratory and field experiments. It was concluded that clove oil + tobacco extract (T14) can play an important role in an integrated pest management program to control Varroa mite in honeybee colonies.