medicinal plants as sustainable control agents against varroa destructor (acari, varroidae), an ectoparasitic mite of honeybees (apis mellifera)

Varroa destructor, an ectoparasitic mite, causes varroasis, a major disease affecting both brood and adult honeybees (apis mellifera). this poses a significant threat to beekeepers (1). synthetic acaricides such as pyrethroids, organophosphates, and formamidines are commonly used to control the mite in commercial beekeeping. however, their overuse has led to resistance in many countries and contamination of hive products. researchers are seeking safer control methods with minimal impact on the environment which should be incorporated into integrated pest management programs to reduce reliance on synthetic acaricides (2). to address this issue, there is a growing trend to use natural products as part of an integrated control strategy. one advantage of organic alternatives is their lower toxicity levels in mammalian species and minimal environmental damage. natural substances have the potential to effectively control honeybee diseases and reduce contamination of beehive products. plants are the primary source of such chemical compounds serving as natural laboratories producing a variety of chemicals. alkaloids, steroids, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, phenols and resins are examples of secondary metabolites found in plants which have insecticidal properties. these substances can poison arthropods through ingestion, contact or inhalation. recent studies have shown that plant extracts can be as effective as or more effective than conventional acaricides against varroa (3). in conclusion, plants have the potential to benefit varroasis control, however, further research is needed to determine safe and effective dosages for practical use in honeybee management.