Insecticide Toxicity to Honey Bees: Lessons Learned From Studies by the University of Florida Urban Entomology Laboratory

Laboratory and field studies comparing the relative tolerance of mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) and non-target species, including the honey bee (Apis mellifera), and other non-target insects have shown that the non-target species can tolerate fairly well when exposed to insecticides used in mosquito control operations. Tolerance levels of non-target species vary due to factors such as the development of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes which require higher insecticide doses to reduce populations to adequate levels. However, well-planned mosquito control programs, can lower risks to honey bees and other non-target species. This review discusses the toxicity of mosquito control insecticides to the honey bee and other non-target insects.