Application of Herbal Essential Oil Extract Mixture for Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.) Against Nosema ceranae and Nosema apis

Abstract

In recent years, interest in herbal essential oil extracts for the treatment of nosemosis has steadily increased. The great importance of this study is in evaluating and validating the synergistic effect caused by the mixture of different herbal extracts. The aim of the study was to investigate through cage experiments and field studies the effect of mixed herbal essential oil extracts and to determine the most suitable application methods and doses of the product in the treatment of nosemosis. The duration of the experiments was three weeks. Results show that the herbal essential oil extract mixture (HEOEM) is effective on both Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae, and on the two together (mixed infection). With respect to application methods, the results revealed that the most suitable method is spraying HEOEM with sterilized distilled water on adult bees and on both sides of frames; 500 µL per cage and 2,000 µL per frame were found to be effective doses of HEOEM in the experimental cages and hives. HEOEM can be a viable alternative to synthetic products in the immediate future as the contents are natural and have no toxic effect on honey bees.

Potential of Wormwood and Oak Bark-Based Supplement in Health Improvement of Nosema ceranae-Infected Honey Bees

“…Chaimanee et al [23] demonstrated that plant extracts made from Annona squamosa, Ocimum basilicum, Psidium guajava, and Syzygium jambos possess a strong anti-microsporidian activity and inhibit the development of N. ceranae spores, with similar efficacy to fumagillin. In another recent study conducted by Özkırım et al [56], the results showed that herbal extract mixture containing Rumex acetosella, Achillea millefolium, Plantago lanceolata, Salvia officinalis, Thymus vulgaris, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Laurus nobilis was more effective than fumagillin. Similarly, thymol was shown to possess an anti-Nosema effect in several studies [18,45,65].…”

“…In previous studies, different types of diets were tested for their effect on Nosema-infected bees. It has been proven that some commercially available supplements like B+ [19] and "BEEWELL AminoPlus" [15] showed a positive effect on the survival of bees infected with Nosema as well as the mushroom extracts of Agaricus blazei and A. bisporus [16,17] and various plant extracts either aqueous extracts of plants such those of Thymus vulgaris, Salvia officinalis, Plantago lanceolata and Rumex acetosella [56], or alcoholic extracts such those of Rosmarinus officinalis and Ugni molinae [23].…”

Recent Advances in the Biocontrol of Nosemosis in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.)

“…Chaimanee et al [ 96 ] demonstrated that plant extracts made from Annona squamosa , Ocimum basilicum , Psidium guajava and Syzygium jambos possess a strong anti-microsporidian activity and inhibit the development of N. ceranae spores, with similar efficacy to fumagillin. In another recent study conducted by Özkırım et al [ 97 ], the results showed that a mix of herbal extract mixture containing Rumex acetosella , Achillea millefolium , Plantago lanceolata , Salvia officinalis , Thymus vulgaris , Rosmarinus officinalis and Laurus nobilis was more effective than fumagillin.…”