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

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.