Effects of Dimethoate on Honey Bee Colonies12

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Abstract
Onion, Allium cepa L, plants were sprayed with dimethoate. Nectar samples collected from these plants over a 2-wk period contained up to 7 ppm dimethoate. There was a gradual reduction in nectar contamination over the sampling period. Colonies of Apis mellifera L. that fed on sugar solutions containing 5.0, 1.0, 0.2, or 0 ppm dimethoate were compared for adult survival, comb building, honey storage, and ability to produce offspnng. The bees could choose between sugar solutions with or without dimethoate; nevertheless, colonies that received dimethoate were seriously damaged at all concentrations tested.