Lose Your Grip: Challenging <i>Varroa destructor</i> Host Attachment with Tartaric, Lactic, Formic, and Citric Acids
Beekeepers can use a variety of treatments against <i>Varroa destructor</i>, the parasitic mite of <i>Apis mellifera</i>. However, sustainable and easy-to-use solutions are still scarce, considering the complexity of reaching the parasite alone. Current treatments involve sof...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/16/9085 |
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| author | Caroline Vilarem Vincent Piou Solène Blanchard Fanny Vogelweith Angélique Vétillard |
| author_facet | Caroline Vilarem Vincent Piou Solène Blanchard Fanny Vogelweith Angélique Vétillard |
| author_sort | Caroline Vilarem |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Beekeepers can use a variety of treatments against <i>Varroa destructor</i>, the parasitic mite of <i>Apis mellifera</i>. However, sustainable and easy-to-use solutions are still scarce, considering the complexity of reaching the parasite alone. Current treatments involve soft acaricides, although their mechanism of action is not well understood. We investigated the effects of organic acids such as tartaric, lactic, formic, and citric acids on the attachment abilities of <i>V. destructor</i> under laboratory conditions. Preventing parasites from gripping or holding on to their hosts is a crucial target for mite control strategies. We challenged grip skills through the Rotavar setup after the direct application of acids to mites’ arolia. We also tested the potential for mites to fall off honeybees after bee treatment. We found that tartaric, citric, and lactic acids were good candidates to impair the attachment of <i>V. destructor</i> twenty-four hours post-treatment. However, lactic acid remained the only candidate at a reasonable concentration to destabilise mites after the honey bee’s treatment without reducing their lifespan. While we conducted these experiments under artificial conditions, our results improved our comprehension of the organic acids’ potential impact on <i>V. destructor</i>. They can also help with the development of new methods for hive application for beekeepers worldwide. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:09:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c756e46dbf9346e8ab2eb892ce791721 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:09:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-c756e46dbf9346e8ab2eb892ce7917212023-11-19T00:04:00ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-08-011316908510.3390/app13169085Lose Your Grip: Challenging <i>Varroa destructor</i> Host Attachment with Tartaric, Lactic, Formic, and Citric AcidsCaroline Vilarem0Vincent Piou1Solène Blanchard2Fanny Vogelweith3Angélique Vétillard4Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR5174, CNRS-Université de Toulouse III-IRD, Université Paul Sabatier, 31077 Toulouse, FranceLaboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR5174, CNRS-Université de Toulouse III-IRD, Université Paul Sabatier, 31077 Toulouse, FranceLaboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR5174, CNRS-Université de Toulouse III-IRD, Université Paul Sabatier, 31077 Toulouse, FranceM2i Biocontrol, Entreprise SAS, 46140 Parnac, FranceLaboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR5174, CNRS-Université de Toulouse III-IRD, Université Paul Sabatier, 31077 Toulouse, FranceBeekeepers can use a variety of treatments against <i>Varroa destructor</i>, the parasitic mite of <i>Apis mellifera</i>. However, sustainable and easy-to-use solutions are still scarce, considering the complexity of reaching the parasite alone. Current treatments involve soft acaricides, although their mechanism of action is not well understood. We investigated the effects of organic acids such as tartaric, lactic, formic, and citric acids on the attachment abilities of <i>V. destructor</i> under laboratory conditions. Preventing parasites from gripping or holding on to their hosts is a crucial target for mite control strategies. We challenged grip skills through the Rotavar setup after the direct application of acids to mites’ arolia. We also tested the potential for mites to fall off honeybees after bee treatment. We found that tartaric, citric, and lactic acids were good candidates to impair the attachment of <i>V. destructor</i> twenty-four hours post-treatment. However, lactic acid remained the only candidate at a reasonable concentration to destabilise mites after the honey bee’s treatment without reducing their lifespan. While we conducted these experiments under artificial conditions, our results improved our comprehension of the organic acids’ potential impact on <i>V. destructor</i>. They can also help with the development of new methods for hive application for beekeepers worldwide.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/16/9085organic acids<i>Varroa</i> mite<i>Apis mellifera</i>grip skillpest management |
| spellingShingle | Caroline Vilarem Vincent Piou Solène Blanchard Fanny Vogelweith Angélique Vétillard Lose Your Grip: Challenging <i>Varroa destructor</i> Host Attachment with Tartaric, Lactic, Formic, and Citric Acids Applied Sciences organic acids <i>Varroa</i> mite <i>Apis mellifera</i> grip skill pest management |
| title | Lose Your Grip: Challenging <i>Varroa destructor</i> Host Attachment with Tartaric, Lactic, Formic, and Citric Acids |
| title_full | Lose Your Grip: Challenging <i>Varroa destructor</i> Host Attachment with Tartaric, Lactic, Formic, and Citric Acids |
| title_fullStr | Lose Your Grip: Challenging <i>Varroa destructor</i> Host Attachment with Tartaric, Lactic, Formic, and Citric Acids |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lose Your Grip: Challenging <i>Varroa destructor</i> Host Attachment with Tartaric, Lactic, Formic, and Citric Acids |
| title_short | Lose Your Grip: Challenging <i>Varroa destructor</i> Host Attachment with Tartaric, Lactic, Formic, and Citric Acids |
| title_sort | lose your grip challenging i varroa destructor i host attachment with tartaric lactic formic and citric acids |
| topic | organic acids <i>Varroa</i> mite <i>Apis mellifera</i> grip skill pest management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/16/9085 |
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