Effect of electromagnetic radiation of cell phone tower on foraging behaviour of Asiatic honey bee, Apis cerana F. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract

The effect of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) of cell phone tower on foraging behaviour of honey bee, Apis cerana F. was studied at Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat from December to May during 2012-13 and 2013-14 at an interval of 15 days. To quantify the effect of EMR, five treatments were placed at varying distance from the tower having different radiation level. The present study results revealed that the peak foraging behaviour of worker bees continues from March to May. The foraging behaviour of worker bees were observed maximum in colonies placed at 500m followed by 1000m, 300m and 200m and least at 100m distance from the tower. The results from the present investigation revealed that the Apis cerana colonies in close proximity to cell phones towers were most affected by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the cell phone tower.