Electromagnetic Radiation : Influences on Honeybees ( Apis mellifera )

Focussing on the influences of non-ionizing radiation towards the behaviour of the honeybee (Apis mellifera), the here presented study reports partially significant results. Nowadays, there is a certain increase of radiation impact in today’s environmental ecosystems, and the influence of higher frequencies on honey bees is analyzed by the workgroup “educational informatics” since 2001 (Stever & Kuhn 2001; Kuhn & Stever 2001; Kuhn & Stever 2002). In ecotoxicology, the honeybee (Apis mellifera) is of great importance as a tested species for agricultural chemicals, e. g. plant protection products and pesticides. In this case, significant variations in the behaviour of Apis mellifera under the influence of non-ionizing radiation were tested. The presented data set is based on earlier studies from 2005, which showed significant differences in returning, 39.7% of the nonirradiated bees came back compared to 7.3% of the irradiated ones. Standard commercial DECT telephones were used as exposition source. Concerning possible variations in behaviour an experimental setup with irradiated and non-irradiated bee hives was assembled. The main emphasis of this study was the investigation on significant changes in the foraging flight under electromagnetic radiation influence.