Acaricidal activity of essential oils for the control of honeybee (Apis mellifera) mites Tropilaelaps mercedesae under laboratory and colony conditions

Tropilaelaps spp. mites are considered a major parasite of honeybees. In this study, essential oils (EOs) 11 plant species were evaluated for acaricidal activity under laboratory and field conditions. Five adult per petri dish ten worker bees plastic cup cage exposed to different concentrations each oil (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0, 10.0% (v/v)). The Piper betle (betel) showed the highest in testing. Additionally, most EOs low toxicity honeybees lab assay. betle, Amomum krervanh, Zanthoxylum limonella then tested whole colonies using cardboard strips soaked 10 mL at various concentrations, every week 4 weeks. krervanh 10% (v/v) P. betel 5.0% decreased mite populations after 30 days. We further grease sponge as application methods deliver A. with no significant impact on mites. Although several demonstrated against conditions, did not significantly reduce colony Therefore, concentration delivery these promising warrant investigation.