Free Access
Issue
Apidologie
Volume 28, Number 3-4, 1997
Page(s) 123 - 127
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:19970303
Apidologie 28 (1997) 123-127
DOI: 10.1051/apido:19970303

The effect of Apistan® on honey bee (Apis mellifera L). Responses to methyl parathion, carbaryl and bifenthrin exposure

M.D. Ellis, B.D. Siegfried and B. Spawn

Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska, 202 Plant Industries Building, Lincoln, NE 68583-0816, USA

Abstract - Honey bees treated with Apistan Queen Tabs® exhibited greater susceptibility to bifenthrin than untreated bees in laboratory bioassays. Bifenthrin was 1.9 times more toxic to bees that were caged with Apistan® Queen Tabs than to bees held in cages without Apistan®. The toxicity of carbaryl and methyl parathion was not significantly affected by Apistan® treatment. The possibility that honey bee colonies being treated with Apistan® are more susceptible to injury by bifenthrin is supported by data obtained in this study. However, susceptibility of colonies to carbaryl or methyl parathion does not appear to be affected by prior Apistan® exposure.


Key words: honey bee / synergism / fluvalinate / insecticide / toxicity