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VOL. 11, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Integrated management of Varroa mite, Apocephalus fly, and Aethina tumida using essential oils in Apis millefera colony
Authors
Munazzah Islam, Barish E James, Amber Rana, Ayushi Bajpai
Abstract
Honey bees play a crucial for sustaining ecosystem stability and
biodiversity. Honey bees play a vital role in agriculture field by pollinating
about 75% of flowering crops, which provide about one third of the food
consumed by the world’s human population. Honey bees are also a bioindicator of
environmental pollution. The product of Apis mellifera provides us with
incredible health benefits. Honey has antimicrobial, antiallergic,
anti-inflamatory and immune-boosting properties. Bee pollen is a very high-protein-rich
diet that is easily digestible. About 300 compounds present in raw propolis
have anticancer and antiviral properties. Royal jelly has anti-ageing
properties. Beeswax is used in various commercial industries for making paints,
cosmetics, and candles, etc. So, this beneficial insect provides us with many
benefits, but itself endures the stress of different biotic and abiotic factors
throughout the year, causing colony collapse disorder. The main abiotic factors
are temperature, humidity, rain, sunlight, nutrition, and pesticides. The
biotic factors that affect the A. mellifera colony are pests and
predators that are present in the colony. The most dangerous one is the Varroa
mite, which causes the spread of viral illness, including deformed wing virus
and it reduces the strength of the colony and leads to colony collapse. The
beetle Aethina tumida is an ectoparasite mite that damages honeycombs by
feeding on honey, pollen, and bee brood. The beetle causes the foul smell in
the hive due to its activity. Apocephalus borealis is a parasitic phorid
fly of honey bees that causes abnormal behaviour, weakening of colonies, and
mortality of infected bees. To minimise the damage caused by these pests, three
different types of essential oils are used (Eucalyptus oil, neem oil, and mint
oil) against the Varroa mite, Apocephalus borealis and Aethina
tumida. The sticky board method was used to capture the pest. Results show
that neem oil and eucalyptus oil is very effective against Varroa mite,
while mint showed the highest effectiveness against Aethina tumida.
Treatments give significant effects against Varroa and A. tumida, (p<0.05)
but with Apocephalous borealis, all treatments with essential oil
showed non-significant effects (p>0.05).
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Pages:337-342
How to cite this article:
Munazzah Islam, Barish E James, Amber Rana, Ayushi Bajpai "Integrated management of <i>Varroa </i>mite, <i>Apocephalus </i>fly, and <i>Aethina tumida</i> using essential oils in <i>Apis millefera</i> colony". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 11, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 337-342
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