The efficacy of thymol and oxalic acid in bee cake against bee mite (Varroa destructor anderson&trueman) in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies [Bal arısı kolonilerinde (Apis mellifera L.) arı akarı (Varroa destructor anderson&trueman) ile mücadelede arı kekine katılan thymol ve oksalik asidin etkisi]

In the present study,two organic compounds (thymol crystals and oxalic acid crystals in bee cake) with pollen supplement feeding were used to treat colonies against varroa destructor. the organic compounds were applied as follows: (1) 10 g of powdered thymol was added to the bee cake prepared with fat-free soy flour,pollen and 1:1 sugar syrup (tbc),(2) 4 g of oxalic acid was prepared using the same cake recipe described above (obc),(3) untreated colony (cc). 60 g of cakes from both treatments applied on the top of the frames in colonies. treatments were carried out in three applications and mite fall were counted weekly during the experiment. the best result was obtained with thymol-bee cake (92.85%). the efficacy of oxalic acid treatment was recorded as 66.72%. there was no significant difference in the level of parasitization inside cells,bee population and brood area among treatments. however there was a significant reduction in mite infestation on adult bee with thymol-bee cake. this result indicates that thymol added to the bee cake is an effective,easy and safe alternative fall treatment for varroa mites. © 2015,veteriner fakultesi dergisi. all rights reserved.