Couvillon MJ, Ohlinger BD, Bizon C, Johnson LE, McHenry LC, McMillan BE, Schürch R. A volatilized pyrethroid insecticide from a mosquito repelling device does not impact honey bee foraging and recruitment.
JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2023;
23:11. [PMID:
38055948 PMCID:
PMC10699868 DOI:
10.1093/jisesa/iead079]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Because nontarget, beneficials, like insect pollinators, may be exposed unintentionally to insecticides, it is important to evaluate the impact of chemical controls on the behaviors performed by insect pollinators in field trials. Here we examine the impact of a portable mosquito repeller, which emits prallethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide, on honey bee foraging and recruitment using a blinded, randomized, paired, parallel group trial. We found no significant effect of the volatilized insecticide on foraging frequency (our primary outcome), waggle dance propensity, waggle dance frequency, and feeder persistency (our secondary outcomes), even though an additional deposition study confirmed that the treatment device was performing appropriately. These results may be useful to consumers that are interested in repelling mosquitos, but also concerned about potential consequences to beneficial insects, such as honey bees.
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