Lithium chloride effectively kills the honey bee parasite Varroa destructor by a systemic mode of action

Ziegelmann, Bettina; Abele, Elisabeth; Hannus, Stefan; Beitzinger, Michaela; Berg, Stefan; Rosenkranz, Peter

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-19137-5

Cited by 47 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Recently, in scientifi c circles, an idea was pushed forward that various lithium compounds may be used in Varroa control. Research carried out by Ziegelmann et al [98] suggests that lithium salts may produce a marked acaricide effect. Our recent research proved the effi cacy of lithium-salt-based supplements ( Figure 6A), especially those containing lithium citrate in various concentrations.…”

Section: Infestation With Varroa Destructor and Mixed Virus Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Looking for the causes of and solutions to the issue of honey bee colony losses

et al. 2019

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Colony losses, including those induced by the colony collapse disorder, are an urgent problem of contemporary apiculture which has been capturing the attention of both apiculturists and the research community. CCD is characterized by the absence of adult dead bees in the hive in which few workers and a queen remain, the ratio between the brood quantity and the number of workers is heavily disturbed in favor of the former, and more than enough food is present. Robbing behavior and pests usually attacking the weakened colony do not occur. In the present paper, the causes of the emergence of this problem are discussed, as well as the measures of its prevention. The following factors, which lead to colony losses, are analyzed: shortage of high-quality food (pollen and honey); infestation with parasites, primarily with Varroa destructor, and mixed virus infections; bacterial infections (American and European foulbrood), fungal infections (nosemosis and ascosphaerosis) and trypanosomal infections (lotmariosis); and, finally, general management of the apiary. Certain preventive measures are proposed: (1) providing ample high-quality forage and clean water, (2) avoiding sugarisation, i.e. superfluous use of sugar syrup, (3) meeting the nutritional needs of the colony, (4) when feeding bees, taking care of the timing and the composition of diet, avoiding pure sugar syrup which in excessive quantities may induce energetic and oxidative stress, (5) when there is a shortage of natural feed – honey in the brood chamber – use sugar syrup with natural/artificial supplements to avoid protein starvation, (6) organized control of V. destructor in the colonies is obligatory due to its vector role, and (7) compliance with hygienic and sanitary measures and principles of good apiculture practice and management in apiaries. To conclude, all preventive measures are feasible in compliance with rules and regulations concerning regular spring and autumn bee health monitoring by licensed veterinarians, who can propose adequate treatments if necessary.

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Section: Infestation With Varroa Destructor and Mixed Virus Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Looking for the causes of and solutions to the issue of honey bee colony losses

et al. 2019

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“…Alongside novel RNAi-based approaches [9], it was observed that lithium salts may offer promising and easy-to-use chemicals for effectively treating Varroa infestation. Furthermore, treatments have been published where 100% mite mortality was found in the brood-free period with minor or no mortality of adult bees, with certain concentrations of lithium-containing chemicals [10,11]. Lithium chloride has been described as a varroicide that acts in a systemic mode of action in a wide range of concentrations [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contact Effect Contribution to the High Efficiency of Lithium Chloride Against the Mite Parasite of the Honey Bee

Kolics

Mátyás

Taller

et al. 2020

Insects

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Lithium chemicals have been proven to be very effective in eradicating Varroa destructor, the detrimental parasite of the honey bee; however, little is known about the side effects on brood and long term consequences on the colony. Earlier, it was proposed that the action mechanisms of lithium chloride do not include the contact mode. Here, we investigate this question using a paper strip test to demonstrate the concentration-dependent effectiveness of lithium in the contact mode of action, confirming that it is also a contact agent against the Varroa mite. According to our knowledge, this is the first report on the high varroicidal effect of lithium in the contact mode of action. Our findings may open up possibilities for novel ways of treatment (e.g., the use of lithiated strips) in the event that lithium salts become legal for use in apiculture.

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“…To be successful, control of V. destructor should be complex, involving biotechnological methods, as well as the use of both ‘hard’ (organophosphate coumaphos, pyrethroids tau ‐fluvalinate and flumethrin, or formamidine amitraz) and ‘soft’ (formic acid, oxalic acid, essential oils, or lithium chloride) acaricides . However, very few ‘hard’ acaricides are suitable for use in bee colonies since most are also toxic to the bees .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatio‐temporal dynamics of Varroa destructor resistance to tau‐fluvalinate in Czechia, associated with L925V sodium channel point mutation

Stará

Pekár

Nešvorná

et al. 2018

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUND: Extensive application of pyrethroids to control Varroa destructor, an invasive mite devastating bee colonies, has resulted in a global spread of resistant mite populations. In this study, we analyzed the spatio-temporal dynamics of resistant V. destructor populations in Czechia, stemming from the L925V mutation. Mites were collected during 2011-2018 directly or from winter beeswax debris, and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and densitometry was used to detect the L925V mutation.RESULTS: Pooled samples of 10 mites were classified, based on their PCR-RFLP patterns, as tau-fluvalinate-sensitive (56%), resistant (9%), or mixed (35%), with the latter including sensitive and resistant homo-and heterozygotes. We identified two zones with higher frequencies of resistance, one in southern Moravia and the other in Bohemia. The mutant populations were evenly distributed throughout the monitored districts, with a few temporal and spatial local fluctuations. The greatest increase in resistance was observed in 2016, following massive losses of bee colonies in the winter of 2015. This event appeared to be closely associated with fluctuations in resistant mite populations and their dispersion. CONCLUSION: Two outbreaks of resistance were detected in Czechia; however, the amount of applied tau-fluvalinate was not correlated with the frequency of resistance in mites. There was no remarkable increase in mite resistance in 2011-2018, although the use of tau-fluvalinate increased 40-fold between 2011 and 2015. PCR-RFLP analysis, performed on mites present in beeswax debris, is a suitable method for monitoring the L925V mutation in V. destructor.

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Lithium chloride effectively kills the honey bee parasite Varroa destructor by a systemic mode of action

Cited by 47 publications

References 44 publications

Looking for the causes of and solutions to the issue of honey bee colony losses

Looking for the causes of and solutions to the issue of honey bee colony losses

Contact Effect Contribution to the High Efficiency of Lithium Chloride Against the Mite Parasite of the Honey Bee

Spatio‐temporal dynamics of Varroa destructor resistance to tau‐fluvalinate in Czechia, associated with L925V sodium channel point mutation

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