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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Tucson, Arizona » Carl Hayden Bee Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #127236
Title: CHEMICAL STIMULUS OF AFRICANIZED HONEY BEE (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE) ATTACKS

Author
item Schmidt, Justin
item JOHNSTON, ANDREA - TUFTS UNIVERSITY
item GINTER, DANIEL - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV.
item Spangler, Hayward

Submitted to: Medical Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/21/2002
Publication Date: 5/20/2003
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.