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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Baton Rouge, Louisiana » Honey Bee Lab » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #339072
Title: Evaluating the effects of mosquito control adulticides on honey bees

Author
item HEALY, KRISTEN - Louisiana State University Agcenter
item OTTEA, JIM - Louisiana State University Agcenter
item WALKER, TODD - East Baton Rouge Parish Mosquito Abatement And Rodent Control
item Rinkevich, Frank
item MARGOTTA, JOSEPH - Louisiana State University Agcenter
item POKHREL, VIVEK - Louisiana State University Agcenter
item VAETH, RANDY - East Baton Rouge Parish Mosquito Abatement And Rodent Control
item HOFFMAN, CLINT - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item FRITZ, BRADLEY - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item Danka, Robert

Submitted to: Bee World
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/3/2017
Publication Date: 3/3/2017
Citation: Healy, K.B., Ottea, J., Walker, T., Rinkevich Jr, F.D., Margotta, J., Pokhrel, V., Vaeth, R., Hoffman, C., Fritz, B., Danka, R.G. 2017. Evaluating the effects of mosquito control adulticides on honey bees. Bee World. 93(4):107-127.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: While mosquito control adulticides can be effective in rapidly reducing mosquito populations during times of high arbovirus transmission, the impacts of these control measures on pollinators has been of recent interest. The purpose of our study was to evaluate mosquito and honey bee mortality using laboratory, semi-field and field based experiments. In semi-field studies, honey bee mortality was significantly lower than mosquito mortality for all products, distances, and application rates tested, except the low rate of Scourge, which had low mortality for both bees and mosquitoes. Field studies with sentinel beekeepers showed no significant differences in bee mortality and health indicators in hives within mosquito control areas versus those outside of treatment areas. Results from our studies have suggested that when done correctly and according to label instructions, mosquito control adulticides should have minimal effects on honey bees. However, improved communication between mosquito control and beekeepers should be done to ensure reduced non-target effects.