A test of new trapping methods for honey bees using odor attractants and a dry trap

Monitoring honey bee abundance is important for maintaining crop pollination and wild bee protection. Although the use of pan traps is a popular method of monitoring bees, the traps rarely capture honey bees and have some drawbacks. Here, we tested a new trapping method for monitoring honey bee abundance. Specifically, using dry funnel traps and two different odor attractants, we compared the efficacy of the traps among three treatments under the condition of presence/absence of insecticide. Consequently, the funnel traps with the Nasonov pheromone captured significantly more honey bees than the traps with benzyl acetate and without attractant. On the other hand, funnel traps with benzyl acetate gathered more other insects, mainly solitary bees, than the traps without attractants. Furthermore, the traps captured honey bees and other insects even when without insecticide. Therefore, funnel traps with attractants may be useful for monitoring not only honey bees but also other bees, in a bee-friendly (i.e., non-toxic) way.