Determination of antivarroatous effect of microorganisms’ consortium Insecturin on bee families in the natural invasive background

Abstract

Goal. To determine antivarroatous effect of microbiological preparation Insecturin (acting substance — consortium of viable bacteria Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. Aureofaciens) — producer of biologically active substances of the phenazine series and encapsulated endotoxin and two strains of Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria producing endospores, protein crystals (endotoxin), and heat-stable exotoxin, — on bee families attacked on low level by mite Varroa destructor. Methods. The experiment was carried out in natural conditions on the bee families with the natural invasive background. Efficacy of the test substances was estimated by the fall of mites, and toxicity — by fall of bees. Results. It is established that Insecturin has antivarroatous effect (fall of mites — 0.14 insects per 1 frame). However, in this experiment, it conceded antivarroatous effect of the investigated biological and chemical analogs — preparation based on essential oils Devar (fall of mites — 0.26 insects per 1 frame), preparation based on essential oils and thymol Apihealth (fall of mites — 0.30 insects per 1 frame), and chemical acaricides based on Amitraz and Fluvalinate, namely preparation Bipin (fall of mites — 0.27 insects per 1 frame) and Manhao (fall of mites — 0.55 insects per 1 frame), respectively. Conclusions. All investigated substances and preparations were low-toxic for bees. Taking into account the low degree of invasion of bee colonies by the mite Varroa destructor before the start of the experiment (0.76–1%), it is reasonable to repeat the experiment on the bee families with the higher level of mites in summer and autumn when no brood.