SOBREVIVÊNCIA E CAPACIDADE DE VOO DE Apis mellifera APÓS EXPOSIÇÃO DIRETA A EXTRATOS AQUOSOS DE NIM

Knowing the toxicity of insecticides, including natural ones, on Apis mellifera is essential for conserving this bee in agricultural production areas. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of aqueous neem extracts on A. mellifera, via direct spraying. The bioassay was carried out under laboratory conditions, evaluating three doses of aqueous extract of neem leaves (5 g/100mL, 10 g/100mL and 20 g/100mL) and three doses of aqueous extract of neem seeds (5 g/ 100mL, 10 g/100mL and 20 g/100mL). Were evaluated Mortality and adverse effects on bee behavior for a period of 24 hours, as well as their capacity to fly after the exposure period. Neem aqueous extracts caused mortality between 8.2% and 27.4% for leaves and 15.4% and 24.3% for seeds. The median lethal time (TL50) ocasioned by aqueous neem extracts was 269.69 hours for leaf at dose 5g/100ml, 135.39 hours for leaf at doses 10 and 20g/100ml, and 67.89 hours for seed regardless of dose. No motor disturbances were observed and there was no interference with A. mellifera capacity to fly. Aqueous extracts of neem leaves and seeds, at the concentrations evaluated, were low toxic to A. mellifera.