Comparison of synthetic pyrethroid, organic acid and essential fatty acid efficacy against varroa destructor on naturally infested honey BEE (Apis mellifera) colonies

Varroa destructor is an important honey bee ectoparasite which directly and indirectly affects bee health and leads to colony losses. There are many struggle methods against the ectoparasite which chemical, biological, genetic and hormonal. The most effective of these methods is chemical control. However, alternative solutions have triggered to be sought because chemical control methods lead to residue in bee products and the mites develop resistance to the chemical. Oxalic acid and thymol are used the most common alternative methods owing to the not lead to residues and have high effectivity on the varroa. In the present study, four groups (flumethrin, oxalic acid, thymol, and control) of the 36 colonies were conducted which in each group 9 colonies. Significant statistical differences were found out according to the number of varroa falling in the study results which between spring and autumn, among days and in days of the same season. According to percentage change formula of drug efficacy were found as flumethrin 85%, oxalic acid 80% and thymol 87% in the autumn and flumethrin 75%, oxalic acid 68% and thymol 84% in the spring. The present study indicates that flumethrin was successfully in the fight against varroa in the long-term while oxalic acid and thymol were short-term. Besides, it was determined that the temperature factor was important in the use of thymol and uncontrolled using effects on undesirable results like as colony collapse. In conclusion, the study revealed that these preparations should not be used as alternatives to each other and should be used together according to the colony for the fight against varroa. Keywords; Apis mellifera, flumethrin, Honey bee, oxalic acid, thymol, Varroa destructor.