Evaluación de tres insecticidas naturales a base de aceites esenciales de: eucalipto, menta y canela para el control de hormigas en las colmenas de abejas de la empresa Ambamiel.

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate natural insecticides based on essential oils to control ants in the bee hives production of the Ambamiel beekeeping farm, located in the Tungurahua Province, Ambato. 12 hives were used (Apis mellifera) of Italian breed; with an average weight of 17,23 kg; 12, metallic bases were also used of 0,50 X 0,60 cm with funnels. A totally random designed was applied for the survey with 3 repetitions and 12 experimental units. Three methods of essential oils were evaluated (T1) eucalyptus (Eucalyptus glubulus), (T2) mint (Menta pulegium) and (T3) cinnamon (Cinnamomun verum) to be compared with a control treatment (T0). The experimental results were subdued to a variance analysis (ADEVA) and the separation of the means through Tukey, with a significance level of (P<0.05) and for the evaluation of weight gaining in the treatments, the separation of means according to Duncan at 5%, finding that variables related to initial weight, final weight, number of death ants/cm²/day/pre-treatment, percentage of infestation/ cm²/pre-treatment, percentage of infestation/cm²/post-treatment and efficacy percentage did not report significant differences within the studied treatments. Meanwhile, the following variables weight gain and number of death ants/cm²/day/post-treatment showed significant differences (P<0,05); the results showed that the essential eucalyptus oil (T1) was affective for the control and elimination of ants due to its repellent and insecticidal properties as well as its durability in the environment, obtaining in T0 a higher profitability and a cost-benefit of 1,19. In other words, for each dollar invested there will be a profit of 0, 19 cents. As a conclusion, it was clear that the use of the essential oils managed to control harmful vectors, it also influenced positively in the production and performance of bee hives. It is recommended the use of essential oils as a natural method to control vectors and parasite in the beekeeping sector.