Evaluation of the Effect of Some Plant Extracts Using Citronella Oil for Controlling Ants (Pheidole megacephala) Infesting Honeybee Apiaries

Abstract

Many apiaries in most areas of the world are being destroyed due to repeated ant attacks, in addition to the recent decline in European honeybee productivity resulting from pollution and numerous environmental changes. This impact has been observed both economically and in plant production, as bees are the most important insect species for pollinating crops worldwide, and there is no effective and environmentally safe alternative. Therefore, this study proposed the use of citronella essential oils and tested them as a repellent or retardant. Three concentrations of oil—25,000, 50,000, and 100,000 ppm—were used to test the effectiveness of the essential oil as a repellent, while chicken gizzards were used as an ant-attractant. Furthermore, the extract was tested near the beehive's exit openings to prevent ants from entering the hive and attacking the larvae. The results showed that both concentrations—50,000 and 100,000 ppm—were very strong repellents, with no significant differences observed in statistical analysis. However, differences were found between these concentrations and other treatments, including the control. Therefore, we recommend using the 50,000ppm concentration in honeycomb areas because it produces excellent results in repelling ants, as they were observed avoiding approaching 50 cm from the beehive openings. Furthermore, this concentration did not affect bee activity during field monitoring.