Herbal treatment for varroa

Colonies of Apis mellifera in Vietnam, as in so many other countries world-wide, are heavily infested by the parasitic mite Varroa jacobsoni. In this article a Vietnamese beekeeper describes a method of treating Varroa using plants which are widely available.

I have checked the effectiveness of using the leaves of Eupatorium stacchadosmun and Cymbopogon nardus to control Varroa. I hope the method can be applied by beekeepers to keep colonies strong. The great advantage is that this method avoids the use of chemicals which harm bees and contaminate bee products.

Method

Two equal portions (two handfuls) of Eupatorium (young shoots and leaves) and Cymbopogon (cut into 7-10 cm pieces) are mixed. This mixture is spread on the bottom-board of an empty hive with all frames removed. After this the frames with bees are replaced. It is advisable to leave a larger comb-space than normal to allow air containing the scents of the plants to circulate. The bees react immediately to the smell by fanning. The next day we check the colony and sweep the dead mites from the bottom-board.

If this method is combined with a biological method of mite control then colony strength can be increased quickly.

Eupatorium stacchadosmun: Compositae. This herbaceous plant, often known as snakeroot, usually grows to 0.5-1.0 m in height. The stem and leaves are very smooth and light violet in colour. The leaves stand in opposite pairs.

Cymbopogon nardus: Graminae. Also known as citronella or lemon grass, this perennial grass develops into bushes 0.8-1.5 m high. The root is white and light violet. The leaves are narrow and long like rice leaves, with rough edges. All parts of the plant give the special lemon aroma.

Conclusions

1. Every beekeeper in Vietnam can grow these two kinds of plants around the house. Compared with the cost of controlling parasitic mites in Apis mellifera colonies by chemicals (about 4-5$US per colony), the herbal method is much cheaper, and shows good efficiency.

2. Tropilaelaps clareae is not affected by this treatment, and further research is needed in this aspect.

3. Lemon grass can also be used in making soft drinks and is very good for the digestion. Eupatorium is a spice and the young sprout can be eaten fresh.

Baoléc, August 1990. Cong du Dien, Lamdong Beekeeping Company.