Bee Studies 2020, Vol 12, Num, 1     (Pages: 005-011)

The Use of Medicinal Aromatic Plants Against Bee Diseases and Pests

Erkan Topal 1 ,Mihaiela Cornea‐Cipcigan 2 ,Rahşan İvgin Tunca 3 ,Mustafa Kösoğlu 1 ,Rodica Margaoan 4

1 Apiculture Research Development Innovation Center, Aegean Agricultural Research Institute, İzmir, Turkey
2 Department of Horticulture and Landscaping, Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj‐Napoca, Romania
3 Department of Plant and Animal Breeding, Ula Ali Kocman Vocational School, Muğla Sitki Kocman University, Muğla, Turkey
4 Department of Microbiology and Biotechnologies, Advanced Horticultural Research Institute of Transylvania, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj‐Napoca, Romania
Viewed : 2127 - Downloaded : 6272 Nowadays, aromatic plants and oils have significant contributions in growth performance, regulation of the digestive system and struggle with disease factors in farm animals. In beekeeping, many synthetic drugs are used against bee diseases and pests. Medicinal aromatic plants and oils, whose beneficial effects are known, are used in beekeeping in order to overcome the mentioned problems by natural means. In multiple researches it has been reported that herbs and essential oils of thyme, clove, mint, lemongrass, cinnamon, grapefruit, rosemary, marigold, laurel, eucalyptus and tea tree have lethal effects against mites, bacteria and fungi. When used appropriate doses, aromatic oils do not cause any toxic effects on the bee colony and have no negative effects on colony development. In addition, the use of medicinal aromatic herbs and oils in beekeeping supports organic production, as well as preventing residue problems in bee products (honey, beeswax and others). Keywords : Honeybees Aromatic oil Beekeeping Good production practices