Regarding the genetic engineering comments posed by Ed Beary
on ENTOMO-L and BEE-L.  You raised several different issues.  Many
honey bees die from some insecticides in the field and do not
transport it back to the hive.  This serves to keep the 'clean food'
aspect of honey intact.  Unfortunately, some insecticide does get
back to the hive and can get into the wax and honey.  Many colonies
are probably contaminated with insecticides during the year and
insecticides may appear in the honey.
 
I am aware of no evidence that honey bees anywhere are
becoming resistant to insecticides.  Selection programs to increase
the insecticide resistance of bees have consistently failed.
 
Resistance to insecticides in insects, including the bee, can take
several forms.  The target of the insecticide can be altered to make
it less sensitive to the chemical.  The cuticle of the insect can be
altered to reduce penetration of an insecticide.  Finally, the enzymatic
machinery of the insect can be altered to degrade the insecticide
into nontoxic molecules.
 
If honey bees acquire resistance by the first two mechanisms, then
increased insecticide contamination of honey or wax may occur.
However, if insecticide resistance is brought about by the third
mechanism, then the honey will actually have LESS insecticide
contamination.  This will happen because the enzyme will actively
degrade any insecticide collected.  Genes such as these are being
sought for transfer into the bee through genetic engineering.
 
A recent article by myself presents the case for genetic
engineering of bees more fully - American Bee Journal 131:188-189
 
Charles Milne
Department of Entomology
Program in Genetics and Cell Biology
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-6432
 
(509) 335-2141
FAX (509) 335-1009
BITNET: MILNE@WSUVM1