Contamination of Sucrose Solution with Aldicarb Sulfoxide Inhibits Foraging by Honeybees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract

Caged honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies collected sucrose solution and sucrose solution containing various levels of aldicarb sulfoxide. Direct mortality was not observed at 3 parts per million (ppm), the highest dose tested. Consumption of sucrose solution correlated negatively with aldicarb sulfoxide concentrations of 0.001-3 ppm. Three ppm aldicarb sulfoxide significantly reduced consumption of 10-50% sucrose solutions (wt/vol).