Effective control of Varroa destructor mites with Juniperus excelsa, Juglans regia, Origanum onites, and Mentha spicata leaf extracts: a study of honey bee colonies

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of plant leaf extracts from Juniperus excelsa (J. excelsa), Juglans regia (J. regia), Origanum onites (O. onites), and Mentha spicata (M. spicata) in controlling Varroa destructor (V. destructor) mites, a major cause of honey bee colony loss. This research seeks to identify eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives for pest control in beekeeping practices. Forty honey bee colonies naturally infested with mites were selected. The colonies were divided into five groups, one control group and four treatment groups, which received varying concentrations of the plant leaf extracts. This study was conducted in two phases: determining the optimal dosage and conducting a field study during autumn and spring, during which the mite infestation levels were evaluated using the powdered sugar method. The powdered sugar method revealed that a 25% concentration of plant leaf extract was the most effective. In the autumn treatment, the efficacy rates were 87% for J. regia, 86% for J. excelsa, 83% for O. onites, and 68% for M. spicata. During spring treatment, rates were slightly reduced but remained promising, with 66% for O. onites, 63% for J. regia, 61% for J. excelsa, and 55% for M. spicata. This study highlights that plant leaf extracts offer a viable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional therapies for controlling Varroa in beekeeping when used at the appropriate dosage. This research provides valuable insights into sustainable pest management and the potential for innovative, environmentally friendly pest control solutions based on aromatic plant products.

Keywords:

• V. destructor
• plant leaf extracts
• beekeeping
• pest management
• herbal treatments

Acknowledgements

We thank Prof. Dr. Levent Aydın for insightful discussions, Prof. Dr. Abdullah Yesilova and Prof. Dr. Hayrettin Okut for statistical guidance, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat YILDIRIM for manuscript review and editing.

Disclosure statement

All the authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary materials.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Office of the University Ege Grant: 17-ECZ-013.