Taking into consideration the use of Apis mellifera as an indicator of environmental pollution, the residues of chlorinated hydrocarbons were examined in bees flying around the perennial entomophilous plants and rape cultivation. Studies were carried out in two apiaries. In the spring, bees from P apiary flew around the plants in forests, willow trees, dandelion and fruit trees, while those from N apiary flew around dandelion, weeds and maple trees. At the end of May, bees from both apiaries were taken to the rape cultivation, where in the 1980s plants were intensively grown and pesticides were used. Samples of bees were collected twice: in May (before being taken to the rape cultivation) and in July (after return to their previous places). In bees from both apiaries only residues of HCH and DDE were found. Concentration of HCH in bees from P apiary was 0.00097 µg/g of lipid matter (l.m.) and after their return from rape cultivation its level increased to 0.00293 µg/g of l.m. and it was 331% higher than in May. In May, the DDE content was 0.00178 µg/g of l.m. and in July 0.00312 µg/g of l.m. and it was about 57% higher. Residues of chlorinated hydrocarbons in bees from N apiary in May were: 0.00130 µg/g of l.m. for HCH and 0.00319 µg/g of l.m. for DDE. In July, after returning the apiary to its place of residence, the HCH level was 0.00224 µg/g of l.m. and increased by 58% and the DDE concentration was 0.00422 µg/g of l.m. (an increase of 76%). Differences in the level of chlorinated hydrocarbons in bees flying around two various cultivations, in completely different locations with respect to plant cover, confirms the usefulness of bees for monitoring the environment.
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