EFFECTS OF METHYL SALICYLATE ON HONEY-BEE (APIS-MELLIFERA L.) FORAGING

Bee poisoning from pesticides used in agriculture, forestry, urban env ironments, and public health is a serious problem affecting many bee c olonies worldwide. A bee repellent adjuvant would be useful in reducin g the bee injury when pesticides are applied to bloom. Applications of methyl salicylate to blooming apples did not appear to repel foraging honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) or reduce fruit set. Applications of m ethyl salicylate at the highest rate reduced honey bee foraging on blo oming dandelions for 4 h or less, and probably not long enough to redu ce bee kills.