Indian Journal of Entomology

The present study is on the effect of neonicotinoids and biopesticides on the foraging behaviour of honey bee Apis mellifera L. on rapeseed (Brassica rapa). Four insecticides and two neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam) and one bioinsecticide spinosad, and another botanical insecticide nimbicidine were sprayed during peak flowering period and the number of visiting bees on rapeseed flower compared with untreated control. The results revealed that reduction over control was found higher with neonicotinoids i.e., imidacloprid and thiamethoxam treated plots followed by spinosad and the lowest was in nimbecidine treated plots. The order of repellency of insecticides on honey bee foraging were neonicotinoids > spinosad >nimbecidine.