Impact of alpha-cypermethrin on honey bees foraging on spring oilseed rape (Brassica napus) flowers in field conditions

• Published in: Pest management science Vol. 63; no. 11; pp. 1085 - 1089
• Main Authors: Karise, Reet, Viik, Eneli, Mänd, Marika
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01-11-2007; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: alpha-cypermethrin; Animal productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Apiculture; Apis mellifera; Apis mellifera L; Applied ecology; Bees; Bees - drug effects; Bees - physiology; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Brassica napus; Brassica napus L. var. oleifera; Control; cypermethrin; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Experiments; Flowers; foraging; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; honey bees; insect behavior; insect pollination; Insecta; insecticide residues; Insecticides - toxicity; Invertebrates; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Population Density; Predation; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Pyrethrins - toxicity; Rape plants; rapeseed; repellence; spraying; sublethal effects; Terrestrial animal productions; Eastern Europe; Europe; Estonia; Insecticide; Brassica napus var. oleifera; Insecta; Non target effect; Apidae; Pyrethroids; foraging; repellence; Apis mellifera L; alpha-cypermethrin; Apis mellifera; Brassica napus L. var. oleifera; Cruciferae; Apoidea; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Flower visiting; Aculeata; Flower; Pesticides; Repulsive activity; Arthropoda; Spermatophyta; Hymenoptera; Invertebrata; Non target organism; Oil plant (vegetal); Field study
• ISSN: 1526-498X; 1526-4998
• DOI: 10.1002/ps.1445

BACKGROUND: Cruciferous oil-bearing crops have gained in importance worldwide. The expansion of the growing area of these crops has caused a proliferation of pests. Exposure to organophosphate, carbamate and pyrethroid insecticides has been associated with bee poisoning in food crops. This study examines the repellent effect of alpha-cypermethrin on the number of foraging honey bees, Apis mellifera L., on fields of spring oilseed rape, Brassica napus L. var. oleifera.RESULTS: The first experiment was conducted on differently sprayed 10 m² experimental plots where alpha-cypermethrin was applied at different times. Another experiment was conducted on a 4 ha seed production field divided into two parts: one part was treated with alpha-cypermethrin and the other was not treated with this insecticide. The results show that there was no difference in the number of honey bees between alpha-cypermethrin-treated and untreated patches. The result persisted through three observation years, regardless of varying flower and honey bee densities.CONCLUSION: No repellent effect of the insecticide on honey bees was found even 24 h after spraying. The density of oilseed rape flowers most likely played a major role in choosing the foraging area. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry