Effects of methyl salicylate on honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) foraging

Bee poisoning from pesticides used in agriculture, forestry, urban environments, and public health is a serious problem affecting many bee colonies worldwide. A bee repellent adjuvant would be useful in reducing 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 methyl salicylate at the highest rate reduced honey bee foraging on blooming dandelions for 4 h or less, and probably not long enough to reduce bee kills.