SEARCH FOR CHEMICALS WITH ACARICIDAL ACTIVITY AGAINST VARROA DESTRUCTOR ACCARIDS – PARASITES OF HONEY BEES APIS MELLIFERA L.

Abstract

The aim of the study is to review new methods of Varroa destructor mite control based on the biological nature of honey bee and mite. Literature sources were analyzed to compare the life cycles of these objects. Data on changes in mite behavior under the influence of the compounds selected by screening are presented. Researchers screened 13 chemicals among which are dialkoxybenzene, esters of 5-(2'-hydroxyethyl) cyclopent-2-en-1-ol(cy-esters), and N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), a known insect repellent. These dialkoxybenzene and cy-ether compounds, when acting on mites, shift their preference from foraging bees to foraging bees. DEET does not affect the behavior of honey bees and their preference, but reduces the ability of mites to reach bees. Of the substances in this series, 5-(2'-methoxyethyl) cyclopent-2-ene-1-butoxydieether showed the greatest activity, exerting a dose-dependent (0.01 µg and 0.1 µg) suppression of the mite's foreleg response to volatile substances in bee honey. Long-term effects were achieved at a low (0.01 µg) dose. Exposure to the compound causes an inversion of mite preference with impaired chemical recognition by bees. In experiments to study acaricidal activity, a dose of 1 µg of 1-allyloxy-4-propoxybenzene resulted in the death of 70 % of the mites after 4 hours of exposure, and after 6 hours 90 % of the mites were killed. To confirm these results of laboratory experiments it is necessary to conduct experiments in apiary conditions.