Acephate bait for eliminating honey bee swarms in swarm traps

Abstract - Field experiments were conducted to assess the effects of acephate-treated (Orthene^® 75 S) sucrose bait and bait packaging methods on artificial honey bee (European-derived stock) swarms in swarm traps. Consumption of acephate bait by swarms and bee mortality depended upon acephate concentration and packaging material. Of 2 types of packages and 10 acephate concentrations tested, 450, 500, 1 500 and 4 500 ppm acephate bait in wax paper envelopes eliminated swarms and most queens within 1 d. Detectable worker mortality in traps ranged from 18% (150 ppm, cup) to 73% (4 500 ppm, envelope) of original populations of ca 12 000 bees. The toxic bait has potential as an economical and safe technique for destroying swarms captured during Africanized honey bee survey and abatement programs.