Evaluation of different controlling agents alone and in combination against Tropilaelaps clareae in relation to honey production in Apis mellifera colonies

Abstract

Effectiveness of Formic acid (T1), Thymol (T2) and Queen caging (T3) alone and Formic acid + queen caging + thymol (T4), Formic acid + thymol (T5) in combination and Control (T6) was under Randomized Complete Design were investigated against honeybee ectoparasitic mite, Tropilaelaps clareae at Honeybee Research Institute (HBRI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan in 2021. Formic acid (15 ml/colony), Thymol (4g/colony), Queen caging (21 days), Formic acid (10 ml/colony) + queen caging (14 days) + thymol (4 g/colony), Formic acid (10 ml/colony) + thymol (4 g/colony) were used in the honeybee, Apis mellifera colonies. Tropilaelaps clareae mites' infestation was recorded 24 hours before and after 7, 14, and 21 days in worker brood, with total dead fallen mites/hive on screened bottom board having white Formica sheet and Sidr honey production in kg per colony. Results of data analysis showed that all treatments performed well against Tropilaelaps clareae mites as compared to untreated control. Formic acid + queen caging + thymol (T4) used in combination was found the best in mean (98.29%) reducing Tropilaelaps clareae worker brood infestation, highest mean total dead fallen (410 mites/colony) and higher differed significantly Sidr (7.6 kg honey/colony) as compared to other treatments and control. Therefore, T4 was the most effective treatment in reducing the population of T. clareae mites. Formic acid + thymol (T5) in combination was found the second most effective treatment against T. clareae mites in this study.