STUDIES OF THE TOXICITY TO WORKER HONEY‐BEES (<i>APIS MELLIFERA</i> L.) OF CERTAIN CHEMICALS USED IN PLANT PROTECTION

Abstract

Laboratory techniques are described for the estimation of the stomach poison, direct and residual film contact poison and fumigant poison effects of chemicals to adult worker honey‐bees. The toxicity of eleven chemicals used in plant protection has been investigated by these methods. The order of effectiveness as stomach and contact poisons was: parathion, TEPP, γ‐BHC, dieldrin, aldrin, chlordane, o , o ‐diethyl‐ o ‐ethylmercaptoethyl thiophosphate (constituent of Systox), bisdimethylamino fluorophosphine oxide, toxaphene and the sodium salts of 2:4‐D and MCPA: as residual films, dieldrin, aldrin, γ‐BHC, parathion, chlordane, and o , o ‐diethyl‐ o ‐ethylmercapto‐ethyl thiophosphate (constituent of Systox); toxaphene, TEPP and bisdimethylamino fluorophosphine oxide had no measurable effect; as fumigants, dieldrin, γ‐BHC, aldrin, parathion, and chlordane; the remainder had no measurable effect.