Toxicity of Apholate to the Honeybee

Abstract

SUMMARYThe toxicity to the honeybee of apholate, Hexakis (aziridinyl) triazatriphosphorine, was investigated in feeding and contact studies. The LD50 for apholate fed to bees in sugar syrup was 120 μg./g. after 72 hours, whereas for topical drop applications it was 7000 μg./g. after 96 hours. Signs of poisoning are lethargy and inactivity, and appear soon after treatment, but toxic action is slow. Two colonies of bees fed apholate at 0·05% concentration in 3 and 4 litres of syrup were broodless within 23 days. The living worker bees were 20–31% below normal in weight. Apholate in liquid syrup is thus hazardous to bees. Impregnated cord and granular glycerine-sugar baits were, however, not attractive to bees, and caused no harm to them, even with repeated contact.