Researchers may have found an effective biological pesticide to control varroa and tracheal mites in bees.
“Beekeepers have become increasingly dependent on the use of pesticides and antibiotics to combat bee pests,” said Mark Winston, a biological sciences professor at British Columbia’s Simon Fraser University.
The pesticides and antibiotics add to production costs, present toxic hazards to beekeepers and bees, and risk contaminating hive products.
Also, pest control now rests on only one or two products, which can lead to pest resistance.
“Our research focused on developing a new agent, an oil from the seeds of the Indian neem tree, for controlling multiple honeybee pests without pesticide residues in honey or wax, and with low toxicological effects on beekeepers and bees,” Winston said.
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“The most important finding of this project was that neem oil has potential to control varroa and tracheal mites, and American foul brood.”
American foul brood is a new, resistant strain of bacterial brood disease. It is spreading but has not reached Saskatchewan.
The project also examined the use of other vegetable oils such as canola and thyme, and found they too showed potential for mite control.
Winston said the next step toward using neem oil for pest control is developing proper dosage and application methods. Although neem is a natural product, it must be used with caution.
