ARS | Publication request: CHEMICAL STIMULUS OF AFRICANIZED HONEY BEE (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE) ATTACKS

Submitted to: Medical Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: November 21, 2002
Publication Date: May 20, 2003
Citation: Schmidt, J. O., Johnston, A. N., Ginter, D. L., Spangler, H. G. Olfactory stimulation of Africanized honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) attacks by insect repellents. 2003. J. Med. Entomol. 40(3):275-278.

Interpretive Summary: Three common insect repellents (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide [DEET], Pyranha and Repel X) were tested to determine whether they had any effect on Africanized honey bee attack behavior. Eight Africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) Colonies were exposed in an alternating series to the test substances or blank controls delivered in a stream of air directed toward the colony entrances. The response generated by the repellents and the controls was measured as the number of attacking honey bees recorded with a temper tester. We found that neither the citronella based repellent (Pyranha) nor DEET had any effect on colony behavior; however, Repel X consistently caused a greater attack response following exposure.

Technical Abstract: Three common insect repellents (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide [DEET], Pyranha and Repel X) were tested to determine whether they had any effect on Africanized honey bee attack behavior. Eight Africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) Colonies were exposed in an alternating series to the test substances or blank controls delivered in a stream of air directed toward the colony entrances. The response generated by the repellents and the controls was measured as the number of attacking honey bees recorded with a temper tester. We found that neither the citronella based repellent (Pyranha) nor DEET had any effect on colony behavior; however, Repel X consistently caused a greater attack response following exposure.