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SUMMARY
36 honey samples collected from colonies of Apis mellifera in apiaries and from combs of the wild honey bees A. dorsata and A. florea were analysed by gas liquid chromatography for insecticide residues. More apiary honeys were contaminated with organochlorines and organophosphates, usually at higher concentrations, than were honeys produced by wild Apis species. The most common contaminants were HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane or benzenehexachloride (BHC), detected in 83.3% of samples), endosulfan (69.4%), aldrin (36.1%) and quinalphos (33.3%). Overall mean residue levels (ppb) in honey from all species and samples combined were: acephate (153.9), aldrin (1.4), chlorpyriphos (6.6), DDT (0.6), dimethoate (7.1), endosulfan (2.5), HCH (84.9), heptachlor (1.3), malathion (15.3), methyl-parathion (2.2) and quinalphos (66.3). Carbaryl (a carbamate group insecticide) was detected in one honey sample each of A. mellifera (901.8 ppb) and A. florea (800.0 ppb). The studies reflect the potential contamination of honey by agricultural chemicals.