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The Effects of D.D.T. and of Benzene Hexachloride on Bees
Author(s) -
Way M. J.,
Synge A. D.
Publication year - 1948
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1948.tb07353.x
Subject(s) - biology , foraging , toxicology , honey bees , population , hymenoptera , botany , stomach , zoology , ecology , biochemistry , medicine , environmental health
Laboratory and field experiments were carried out during 1946 to determine the effects of D.D.T. and of benzene hexachloride (B.H.C.)* on honey‐bees and on several wild be species. Laboratory experiments show that B.H.C. is a powerful contact and stomach poison and results of field experiments with commercial preparations confirm its danger to the foraging bee population. A few minutes' contact with treated surfaces is sufficient to cause death and blossom may remain poisonous for at least 3 days after treatment. In the laboratory D.D.T. has a contact action at fairly high concentrations and as a stomach poison is rather more toxic than lead arsenate. In the field, commercial preparations on open blossom are apparently harmless to foraging bees.