Influence of cell phone radiation from mobile phone towers on osccilation of varroa destructor attacking honey bee colonies

Abstract EN

The present research aimed to study the relation between honey bee colony exposed to the cell phone radiation and the oscillation in pests' rates.

The study conducted at special apiaries at Sharkia governorate and the laboratories of Economic Entomology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Menofia University.

Three honey bee hybrids were located closed to cell phone towers and 1, 2 km far from towers.

The obtained results in both of the two years indicated that the total high infestation were recorded in November with 74.7 varroa individual /colony under phone towers, 70.3 varroa individual /colony far from towers about 1 km and 52.3 varroa individual /colony far from 2 km as mean for all hybrids, but for every hybrid the data recorded 124 varroa individual /colony under phone towers, 88 varroa individual /colony far from towers about 1 km and 53 varroa individual /colony far from 2 km for Italian hybrid, 59 varroa individual /colony under phone towers, 92 varroa individual /colony far from towers about 1 km and 81 varroa individual /colony far from 2 km for Carniolan hybrid and finally for local hybrids were 41 varroa individual /colony under phone towers, 31 varroa individual /colony far from towers about 1 km and 23 varroa individual /colony far from 2 km.

so that the research recommended rearing colonies of both Carniolan and local hybrids if the apiary nearer than 1 km and rearing Italian hybrids in farer than 1 km.

The effect ofexposure to cellphone radiation on the infestation rates were highly significant in Italian, Carniolan and local hybrid respectively.

Statistical analysis of data indicated that there were significant differences in all values under study between hives closed to cell phone towers and those far from it.

Furthermore, the exposed colonies to electromagnetic radiations of cell phone device showed significant increases in varroa infestation.

Finally, it could be concluded that cell phone radiation consider one of the major factors causing the oscillations in pests attacking honey bee colony, and may be a reason in colony collapse disorder, so that colonies must kept away from these radiations.