The Influence of Electromagnetic Field on Honey Bee Workers – Review Paper

The environment in which insects live, especially honey bees, which are natural pollinators, is increasingly polluted by electromagnetic fields. The impact of the anthropogenic electromagnetic field on bees depends on its frequency and intensity. A wide range of these variables have different effects on bees. This is manifested by changes in physiology, different behaviors and energy absorption by the bee's body. The article reviews these effects in relation to: low-frequency electric fields at a frequency of 50 Hz, electromagnetic fields generated by mobile telecommunications networks and high-frequency electric fields (2 ÷ 240) GHz. Most studies reported an adverse effect of the field on honey bee colony populations. Additionally, a method of protecting bees and hives against infection using an electromagnetic field, i.e. ultraviolet UV-C radiation, was presented. The paper presents a synthetic assessment of the impact of the electromagnetic field on honey bee workers based on a literature review.