Plant extract-based preventive preparation for the control of greater wax MOTH (galeria mellonella l.)

Abstract

The invention relates to a preparation for the control of the Greater Wax Moth (Galeria mellonella L.) which feeds on wax, honey, and pollen causing significant economic losses in the beekeeping sector, which is a completely plant-based, human- and environmentally-safe alternative to chemical control, at least as effective as chemical control, and does not create residue problems when used.

Description

[0001] PLANT EXTRACT-BASED PREVENTIVE PREPARATION FOR THE CONTROL OF GREATER WAX MOTH (Galeria mellonella L.)

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to a preparation for the control of the Greater Wax Moth (Galeria mellonella L.) which feeds on wax, honey, and pollen causing significant economic losses in the beekeeping sector, which is a completely plant-based, human- and environmentally-safe alternative to chemical control, at least as effective as chemical control, and does not create residue problems when used.

[0004] PRIOR ART

[0005] In the beekeeping sector, the control of greater wax can be carried out with physical, chemical, and biological control methods. However, despite the numerous side effects they bring with them, beekeepers widely use chemical control techniques today due to their ease of use and effectiveness. Techniques for controlling this pest are listed below under the following headings.

[0006] Physical Control:

[0007] This control method involves capturing and killing the adult females of the pest species with different methods and is a control method utilizing heat or cold, however, it is not possible to carry out these applications in the colony environment of the bees. However, it is a method that can be preferred for the preservation of honeycombs stored in warehouses or wax to be used for other purposes. In both methods, the degree of temperature or coldness and time are interdependent. As the temperature increases or the coldness decreases, the application time decreases and vice versa. Refrigeration is a convenient and inexpensive method that can be used safely and comfortably if the means are available. Wax moths at all stages from egg to adult are killed in honeycombs kept at -15°C for 2 hours, -12°C for 3 hours, and -7°C for 4.5 hours. Although the heat treatment is practical and inexpensive, the inability to apply it in environments where bees are present and on honeycombs limits its use. At the high temperatures required to kill the pest (above 45°C), both the bees are harmed and the honeycomb becomes unavailable for reuse since the wax melts and the honeycomb cells become deformed, making it impossible to preserve the honey in the honeycomb.

[0008] Chemical Control:

[0009] This form of control is carried out with the use of a plurality of different chemicals. The most significant disadvantage of chemical control methods is that they are not suitable for use in protecting honeycombs within colonies containing bees, and that many of the chemicals leave residues in wax and honey. Since these chemicals have negative effects mainly on human and environmental health both during use and after use, and cause residue problems in the final product (honey, pollen, propolis, etc.), this is an issue that requires careful consideration. Chemicals commonly used today against the wax moth are exemplified below.

[0010] Use of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

[0011] Sulfur dioxide fumes produced by burning powdered sulfur are used as an effective agent against the wax moth (Galeria mellonella). In practice, honey-extracted honeycombs are placed into supers, stacking 5-6 supers on top of each other, with an empty super placed at the top; powdered sulfur is ignited inside a metal container within this super using glowing embers, if necessary, after it is closed, the resulting sulfur dioxide smoke, being heavier than air, descends to the honeycombs below and thereby spreads over the wax moth. 8 It is reported that using 42 g of sulfur for each hive in the practice gives the most effective result. Guveset is made of the same active ingredient and the method of use of this agent is the same, only instead of powdered sulfur, it is recommended to use 100 g Guveset for every 6 layers honeycombs in the super. The mentioned applications inside the hive and supers are intended for small- scale beekeeping conditions, whereas for large-scale applications, gas-tight special rooms should be prepared, and powdered sulfur or Guveset should be burned according to the volume of the room. Whichever application is preferred, ventilation of the honeycombs a few hours after the application should not be neglected. To prevent smoke occurring in such application from escaping from the hive and supers in this type of application, these materials must be tightly sealed with nylon cover and packing tape. It is also reported that a successful control against wax moth can be carried out by spraying liquefied sulfur under pressure on honeycombs. Since sulfur dioxide application is not effective against Galleria mellonella eggs, the application should be repeated after 15-20 days.

[0012] Use of Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

[0013] Carbon dioxide application at an intensity that can be effective against the wax moth (Galleria mellonella L.) is not applied in colonies as it would harm the bees. It is successfully used in the stored honeycombs or in the storage of wax stored for other purposes. The honeycombs to be treated with CO2 are placed on shelves in an airtight room or in a special environment prepared for this purpose. Hive bodies and supers are also suitable for this purpose, provided that the cracks and crevices are well sealed or covered with a nylon cover. In this application, exposure for 4 hours at 38°C, 50% relative humidity and 98% CO2 concentration is sufficient to kill all eggs, larvae, pupae and adults of the wax moth. Although CO2 is not toxic to humans at normal limits, since it is not possible for people to live in application rooms with high concentrations of CO2, the rooms should definitely be ventilated before entry.

[0014] Ethylene Dibromide (EDB) Application

[0015] In this application, honeycombs infected with wax moth are placed in empty hives or supers again and stacked on top of each other. In order to prevent the resulting gas from escaping after the application, the holes, cracks and crevices in the hives and supers should either be sealed with a substance such as wax so that no gas can escape, or a nylon cover should be placed over the outside of these areas. The application method involves dripping 20-25 cc of ethylene dibromide onto a piece of cloth placed on top of the honeycomb and tightly closing the hive cover. After this, ethylene dibromide slowly evaporates and, being heavier than air, spreads into the area of the hive where the honeycombs are located. Gaseous ethylene dibromide has a lethal effect on the larvae, adults, and eggs of wax moths on honeycombs or inside hives. During application, it should be ensured that the ambient temperature is above 15-20°C and that the honeycombs remain in this environment for at least 24 hours. After fumigation application, the honeycombs should be kept in an airy and moth-free environment for two days and then stored in an environment where moths are unable to re-enter. In particular, the fact that it is difficult to obtain and expensive in Turkey hinders the widespread adoption of the application. Naphthalene (Paradichlorebenzene (PDB)) Application

[0016] Until today, it is the most widely used agent against wax moth in Turkey and is still widely used by uninformed beekeepers. Although the application method is similar to Sulfur dioxide or Ethylene dibromide, it is a chemical that should never be used as it creates residue problems in honey and wax and negatively affects these products and human health. Due to their absorbent properties, honey and wax absorb naphthalene like a sponge during application, and when the honeycombs are given to the bees, they act reluctant to work on them. It is reported that when the agent concentration is high, it has a toxic effect on bees and bees even leave the hive. There were years when honey exports of the country came to a standstill due to the residue problem and the use of Naphthalene was banned against the wax moth. However, it is known that its use continues today, albeit limited.

[0017] Use of Acetic Acid

[0018] It is unlikely to be used in a colony as high doses would be harmful to the bees and low doses would be ineffective against the wax moth. The liquid agent is placed in an open container and placed in a closed environment where the temperature is above 20°C and where the honeycombs are located, so that it evaporates and this vapor spreads over the honeycombs. An application of 200 ml of 80% acetic acid immediately kills adults and eggs of the wax moth in an area with a volume of 100 liters. Larvae, especially pupae, are more resistant, therefore application should be longer and more intensive. To increase the effectiveness of the application, the application should be made after the honeycombs are removed from the hive, without waiting for the wax moth eggs to enter the larval stage. Acetic acid has no residue problem in honey and wax that would be harmful to human health. Acetic acid should not be inhaled and bare skin contact should be avoided during application. If the application is made in summer months, application is recommended every two weeks.

[0019] Use of Formic Acid

[0020] Formic acid can also be used successfully against the wax moth, but for similar reasons it cannot be used in the colony. It can be successfully used in the preservation of honeycombs removed from the colony and stored, or wax to be used for other purposes, and has an effectiveness close to that of acetic acid. During the summer months, application should be every two weeks. 80 ml of 80% formic acid is sufficient to kill all stages of the wax moth in an area with a volume of 100 liters. As with acetic acid, there is no residue problem in honey and wax and the way of use is the same as in acetic acid. Skin contact and close inhalation should be avoided.

[0021] Biological Control:

[0022] The use of other organisms to control the population density of an organismis referred to as biological control. Various Bacteria, Fungi, Nematodes and Predators (predatory insects) are used to control the wax moth. Although all of these applications are successful under laboratory conditions, their use in the colony or on stored honeycombs does not yield the same success, and difficulties in use and lack of economic viability prevent their widespread practical application. Bacillus thuringiensis is the most important bacterium used in the control and successful results have been obtained. Bacterial (Bacillus thuringiensis) spores, which have no negative effects on humans and honey bees, act as poison when taken into the digestive system by young wax moth larvae and cause death. The rapid breakdown of spores and crystals in hot and humid hive conditions and the need to take measures for their preservation is the most important factor limiting the application in the colony. It is reported that different preparations prepared from B. It has been reported that thuringiensis spores or crystalline forms can be successfully used in stored honeycombs by spraying, and if used in the colony, it does not have a negative effect on the individuals in the colony and will not have a negative effect if it is passed to humans through bee products.

[0023] All of the control elements summarized above have been designed and prepared with the vision of damage elimination after damage formation. However, the preparation for which the patent application will be filed will have an irritant effect on the pest insect, preventing the insect from approaching the wax or even the apiaries from the very beginning and preventing damage. When compared in terms of usage, it differs from other control techniques in that, unlike existing control techniques, it can be easily applied both in live bee colonies and in wax storage areas, and has distinct features such as having no adverse effects mainly on human, animal, or environmental health and not creating residue problems. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0024] All of the control elements of the greater wax moth (Galeria mellonella) have been designed and prepared with the vision of damage elimination after damage formation. However, the preparation for which the patent application will be filed will have an irritant effect on the pest insect, preventing the insect from approaching the wax or even the apiaries from the very beginning and preventing damage. When compared in terms of usage, it differs from other control techniques in that, unlike existing control techniques, it can be easily applied both in live bee colonies and in wax storage areas, and has distinct features such as having no adverse effects mainly on human, animal, or environmental health and not creating residue problems. The plant-based origin of the invention clearly distinguishes it from synthetic chemical preparations, making it superior to existing preparations in terms of naturality.

[0025] Another important feature of the invention is that, thanks to the completely plant-based raw materials in the composition of the invention, it prevents adverse effects on human and environmental health compared to synthetic formulations used particularly in chemical control.

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The invention is a preventive preparation for use in the control of the greater wax moth Galeria mellonella L.), comprising at least one of ethanol, methanol, or butanol solution ingredients; isopropylene glycol or glycerin, Teucrium polium essential oil, Teucrium polium extract, walnut leaf extract, and water. The preparation is obtained by adding isopropylene glycol or glycerin into the solution prepared with ethanol, methanol or butanol, then adding walnut leaf extract, Teucrium polium extract, and Teucrium polium essential oil, heating the mixture at intervals, shaking, and resting (Heating vibration system). The product obtained is ready for use after filling it into spray cans.

[0028] The technical effect of the use of Teucrium polium extract, Teucrium polium essential oil and walnut leaf extract in the invention is that besides having an irritant effect against the greater wax moth, it is used in traditional medicine for its therapeutic potential (antioxidant, antispasmodic, antihelminthic, antirheumatic, diuretic, antidiabetic, and anticancer) and is known to have antifungal and antimicrobial properties for different purposes. Isopropylene glycol, on the other hand, is used to adjust the volatility balance of the final product. Ethanol, methanol or butanol dissolve essential oils and extracts and form the base for the product.

[0029] During the preparation of the invention, a 70% by volume of ethanol methanol or butanol solution is prepared and filled into suitable screw-cap glass bottles. As is well known, the shelf life of 70% ethanol is usually 2 to 3 years when stored properly. However, its effectiveness may decrease over time due to evaporation and potential contamination. Therefore, the preference for a 70% solution ratio is to extend the shelf life of the preparation as much as possible. After this process, isopropylene glycol or glycerin (2.5-3.1% of the total volume for isopropylene glycol and 1 .8-2.1% for glycerin) and Teucrium polium extract, Teucrium polium essential oil and walnut leaf extracts are added at room temperature conditions in a different bottle and the bottle cap is tightly closed. The prepared bottles were shaken at 35°C for 12-24 hours for complete homogenization and mixing of Teucrium polium extract, Teucrium polium essential oil and walnut leaf extracts with isopropylene glycol or glycerin, and then allowed to rest at room temperature for 72 hours to confirm that the process was carried out properly. These solutions (a mixture of 70% alcohol solution + Teucrium polium extract, Teucrium polium essential oil, walnut leaf extracts and isopropylene glycol or glycerin) prepared in different bottles were shaken with a shaker for 40 minutes to mix them together in bottles with larger volume and finalize the product. The shaking time may vary depending on the power of the shaker. The product obtained is ready for use by filling it into appropriate sized spray cans.

[0030] Product application should be carried out in the direction of wind or air currents such that it does not come into contact with the eyes and respiratory tract of the applicator. The product can be applied to honeycombs stored in bee-free supers and hives by sprinkling method. In a 10-frame hive or super, the application can be carried out in 10-15 puffs to various places, mainly the hive bottom (including frames, and sides). The application in hives containing bees can be carried out by applying to the hive bottom, hive sides and wooden surfaces such as the edge of the frames, if possible.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A preventive preparation for use in the control of the greater wax moth (Galena mellonella L.), characterized in that it comprises at least one of ethanol, methanol, or butanol ingredients; isopropylene glycol or glycerin, Teucrium polium essential oil, Teucrium polium extract, walnut leaf extract, and water.

2. The preparation according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises isopropylene glycol in an amount of 2.5-3.1% of the total volume.

3. The preparation according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises glycerin in an amount of 1 .8-2.1% of the total volume.

4. A method for preparing a preventive preparation for use in the control of the greater wax moth Galena mellonella L.), characterized by comprising the steps of:- preparing a 70% ethanol, methanol, or butanol solution by volume,- adding, in a different bottle, isopropylene glycol in an amount of 2.5-3.1% of the total volume or glycerin in an amount of 1.8-2.1% of the total volume,- adding Teucrium polium extract, Teucrium polium essential oil, and walnut leaf extract to the bottle comprising isopropylene glycol or glycerin under room temperature conditions,- shaking the bottle comprising isopropylene glycol or glycerin, Teucrium polium extract, Teucrium polium essential oil, and walnut leaf extract at 35°C for 12-24 hours and subsequently allowing it to stand at room temperature for 72 hours,- combining, in a different bottle, the 70% alcohol solution with the mixture of isopropylene glycol or glycerin, Teucrium polium extract, Teucrium polium essential oil, and walnut leaf extract, and shakingwith a shaker for 40 minutes.