The impact of smoke and fogged/vaporized thyme oil on honey bee (Apis mellifera) survival and behavior in vitro

Abstract

Abstract Essential oils, such as thyme oil, are natural chemicals used to treat Varroa destructor infestations in western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies. We compared the effects of thyme oil/mineral oil mixtures delivered with an insect fogger or vaporizer to those of smoke from a smoker on the mortality and behavior of adult honey bees (Apis mellifera). Thyme oil delivered by fogging significantly increased caged bee mortality over that of the controls. The behaviors of thyme oil-treated bees in the observation hives were somewhat similar to those of the control bees exposed to smoke.