Pesticides vary in their effect on bees. Contact insecticides affect the worker bee that is directly sprayed. Systemic insecticides can contaminate nectar or pollen and cause bee kills in the hive. A female honeybee in a beehive. ...

Dusts and wettable powders tend to be more hazardous to bees than solutions or emulsifiable concentrates.

Classification of toxicity based on Lethal Dose 50% (LD₅₀)mg/bee

>100 virtually non-toxic

11-100 slightly toxic

2.0-10.99 moderately toxic

<2.0 highly toxic

Bee kill rate

The kill of bees can be classified as:

<100 per day - normal die off rate

200-400 per day - low kill

500-900 per day - moderate kill

>1000 per day - high kill

Highly Toxic

Brand name, generic name and length of residual toxicity. Note that the brand names listed here are by no means complete.

Carbamates

• Baygon (propoxur (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/propoxur.htm))
• Furadan (carbofuran (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/carbofur.htm)) ⇒ 7 - 14 days
• Lannate (methomyl (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/methomyl.htm))
  • Lannate LS ⇒ 2 hours +
• Mesurol (methiocarb)
• Nudrin (methomy (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/methomyl.htm)])

The Carbamate functional group is formed when a carbon dioxide molecule reacts with the amino terminus of a peptide chain or an amino group of an amino acid, adding a COO- group to it and releasing a proton (H+ ion). ...

Organophosphates

• Afugan (pyrazophos)
• Azodrin (monocrotophos (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/monocrot.htm))
• Baytex (fenthion (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/fenthion.htm))
• Bidrin (dicrotophos (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/dicrotop.htm))
• Cygon (dimethoate (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/dimethoa.htm)) ⇒ 3 days banned in the US
• Cythion (malathion (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/malathio.htm))
• Dasanit ([fensulfothion])
• DDVP (dichlorvos (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/dichlorv.htm))
• De-Fend (dimethoate (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/dimethoa.htm))
• Dibrom (naled (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/naled.htm)) ⇒ 16 hours
• Dursban (chlorpyrifos (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/chlorpyr.htm)) banned in the US for home and garden use
• Dyfonate EC (fonofos (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/fonofos.htm)) ⇒ 3 hours
• Gardona (tetrachlorvinphos)
• Guthion (azinphos-methyl (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/azinopho.htm)) ⇒ 2.5 days
• Imidan phosmet (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/phosmet.htm)
• Lorsban (chlorpyrifos (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/chlorpyr.htm)) banned in the US for home and garden use ⇒ 4 - 6 days
• malathion
  • Malathion USB >8 fl oz/acre (58 L/km²) ⇒ 5.5 days
  • Malathion EC ⇒ 2-6 hours
• Metasystox-R (oxydemetonmethy (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/demetons.htm)]) ⇒ <2 hours
• Methyl-Guthion (azinphos-methyl (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/azinopho.htm))
• Monitor (methamidophos (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/acephate.htm))
• parathion (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/parathio.htm) Penncap-M (methyl parathion) ⇒ 5-8 days. By far the most potentially damaging pesticides for honey bees are those packaged in tiny capsules (microencapsulated). Microencapsulated methyl parathion (PennCap M®), for example, is a liquid formulation containing capsules approximately the size of pollen grains which contain the active ingredient. When bees are out in the field, these capsules can become attached electrostatically to the pollen-collecting hairs of the insects and at times are collected by design. When stored in pollen, the slow-release feature of the capsules allows the methyl parathion to be a potential killer for several months. At the present time, there is no way to detect whether bees are indeed poisoned by micro-encapsulated methyl parathion, so a beekeeper potentially could lose replacement bees for those already poisoned by the pesticide. It is, therefore, strongly recommended that this formulation be used only when honey bee exposure is not a possibility.
• Sevin (carbaryl (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/carbaryl.htm)) ⇒ 3 - 7 days
  • Sevin XLR (carbaryl) ⇒ 8 hours @ 1.5 lb/acre (168 kg/km²) or less. Bees poisoned with carbaryl can take 2-3 days to die and appear inactive as if cold. It allows them time to take contaminated nectar and pollen back to the colony. Some crops treated with Sevin® under the wrong conditions (i.e., in bloom using a dust formulation with large numbers of bees in the field) have been responsible for disastrous kills. Sevin® is one of the US most widely used insecticides for a wide variety of insect pests. It is also one of the most toxic to honey bees in certain formulations. There are formulations, however, which are determined to be less toxic (see tables). Usually, applicator-beekeeper communication can effectively be used to adequately protect bees from Sevin® poisoning.
• Spectracide (diazinon (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/diazinon.htm))
• Sumithion (fenitrothion (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/fenitrot.htm))
• Supracide (methidathion (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/methidat.htm))
• Tameron (methamidophos (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/methamid.htm))
• Thimet EC (phorate (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/phorate.htm)) ⇒ 5 hours
• Vapona (dichlorvos (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/dichlorv.htm))

An organophosphate (sometimes abbreviated OP) is the general name for any organic compound containing phosphorus. ... Categories: Chemistry stubs | Antiparasitic agents | Anticholinesterases | Insecticides ...

Synthetic pyrethroids

• Ambush (permethrin (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/permethr.htm)) ⇒ 1 - 2 days, safened by repellency under arid conditions. Permethrin is also the active ingredient in insecticides used against the Small hive beetle, which is a parasite of the beehive in the temperate climate regions.
• Ammo (cypermethrin (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/cypermet.htm)) ⇒ Less than 2 hours
• Asana (esfenvalerate (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/esfenval.htm)) ⇒ 1 day, safened by repellency under arid conditions
• Pounce (permethrin (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/permethr.htm)) ⇒ 1 - 2 days, safened by repellency under arid conditions
• Pydrin (esfenvalerate (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/esfenval.htm)) ⇒ 6 hours
• resmethrin (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/resmethr.htm)

A parasite is an organism that lives in or on the living tissue of a host organism at the expense of that host. ... Domesticated honeybees are kept in beehives. ...

Chlorinated cyclodienes

• DMDT, Marlate (methoxychlor (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/methoxyc.htm)) ⇒ 2 hours
• Thiodan (endosulfan (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/endosulf.htm)) ⇒ 8 hours

Chloronicotines

• Gaucho (imidacloprid (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/imidaclo.htm)) "mad bee disease"

For the South American cattle herder see gaucho. ...

Herbicides

• Weed-B-Gone (2,4-D (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/24-D.htm)) herbicide

A herbicide is a pesticide used to kill unwanted plants. ... A herbicide is a pesticide used to kill unwanted plants. ...

Others

• Dimecron (phosphamidon)
• Famophos (famphur)
• Phosdrin (mevinphos (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/mevinpho.htm))
• phosphamidon (Dimecron)
• Systox (demeton (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/demetons.htm)) ⇒ <2 hours
• tepp most toxic to bees LD₅₀ 0.001 micrograms per bee but short residual activity*Zectran (mexacarbate (http://www.scorecard.org/chemical-profiles/summary.tcl?edf_substance_id=315-18-4)) formula

Source:Protecting Bees When Using Insecticides (http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/insects/g1347.htm) University of Nebraska Lincoln, Extension, May 1998 University of Nebraska seal The University of Nebraska is the main public higher education outlet of the State of Nebraska in the United States. ...

Highly toxic and banned in the US

• Aldrin (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts1.html) banned by US EPA in 1974
• carbofuran (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/carbofur.htm) (banned in granular form)
• dieldrin (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts1.html) banned by US EPA in 1974
• heptachlor (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/heptachl.htm)
• lindane, BHC (banned in California)

Lindane is an insecticide, also known as gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and benzene hexachloride (BHC). ... State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ...

Moderately toxic

• Orthene (acephate (http://www.ipmofalaska.com/files/acephate.html)) ⇒ 3 days
• demeton-s-methyl

This list is incomplete. Please add to it.

Relatively non-toxic

• Most fungicides and herbicides
• Checkmite (coumaphos (http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/coumaphos.html)) This is an organo phosphate insecticide that is used inside the beehive to combat varroa mites and small hive beetle, which are parasites of the honey bee. Overdoses can lead to bee poisoning .
• Endosulfan
• dicofol
• pirimicarb,
• petroleum oils
• most pyrethroid chemicals
• Temik (aldicarb) ⇒ apply 4 weeks before bloom
• Dylox (trichlorfon) ⇒ 3 - 6 hours

This list is incomplete. Please add to it. Fungicides are pesticides for destruction or development prevention of fungi. ... A herbicide is a pesticide used to kill unwanted plants. ... Domesticated honeybees are kept in beehives. ... Common diseases, parasites, pests, and ailments of the honeybee include: Varroa mite Acarine mites, formerly known as Tracheal mites American foulbrood (AFB) European foulbrood (EFB) Chalkbrood Nosema Small hive beetle Wax moths Chilled brood Stonebrood Pesticide losses Varroa mites Varroa mite on a honeybee larva Varroa destructor is a parasitic... A parasite is an organism that lives in or on the living tissue of a host organism at the expense of that host. ...

Common insecticides toxic to bees used on soybeans

Many insecticides used against soybean aphids are highly toxic to bees. Binomial name Glycine max Soybeans (US) or soya beans (UK) (Glycine max) are a high-protein legume (Family Fabaceae) grown as food for both humans and livestock. ... Insecticide application by crop spraying An insecticide is a pesticide whose purpose is to kill or to prevent the multiplication of insects. ...

• Orthene 75S (acephate)
• Address 75 WSP (acephate)
• Sevin (Carbaryl)
• Lorsban 4E (Chlorpyrifos)
• Dimate (Dimethoate)
• Steward 1.25 SC (Indoxacarb)
• Lannate (Methomyl)
• Cheminova Methyl 4EC (Methyl Parathion)
• Penncap M (microencapsulated Methyl Parathion)
• Tracer (Spinosad)

Source: Commonly Used Insecticides for Soybeans (http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/entomology/extension/InsectInfo/Soybean/Soybean%20Insecticides.html) Kansas State University Extension, Aug 2004 Parathion, or methyl parathion, is a very potent insecticide. ... Kansas State University (sometimes referred to as K-State) is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas. ...

External links

• Protecting Honeybees From Pesticides, Dean K. McBride, 1997 (http://ndsuext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/pests/e494w.htm#highly) North Dakota State University
• Honey Bees and Pesticides, 1978, Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium (http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/bees_pesticides.html)
• Protecting Honey Bees From Pesticides (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AA145), University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, Malcolm T. Sanford, April 1993
• US EPA Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice 2001-5 (http://www.epa.gov/opppmsd1/PR_Notices/pr2001-5.pdf)