Relative Safety of Some Pesticides against Honey Bees, Apis Cerana Cerana Fab. and Apis Mellifera L. on Mustard (Brassica Juncea L. Czern)

Field experiments were carried out during 2003–04 and 2004–05 to compare the field weathered toxicity/ safety of pesticides against honey bees Apis cerana cerana Fab. and Apis mellifera L on mustard. All the treatments were applied at 50% flowering of Brassica juncea L. (Czern.) with a knapsack sprayer. Flower stalks were cut at different intervals and honey bees were released on them to know the field weathered toxicity. Studies revealed the following order of safety after 120 h of spraying; imidacloprid seed treatment > spiromesifen > B. thuringiensisvar. kurstaki > endosulfan > imidacloprid foliar application > cypermethrin + B. thuringiensisvar. kurstaki > l-cyhalothrin + azadirachtin > cypermethrin > l-cyhalothrin.