Abstract
A simple and fast analytical method using High Performance Liquid Chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) was used to determine residues of commonly used agricultural insecticides (imidacloprid, thiametoxam, profenofos, endosulfan, spinosad and deltamethrin) in multi-floral raw honey of Apis dorsata F. collected from the cotton belt area of Punjab, Pakistan. The residues of these insecticides were extracted using ethyl acetate. Honey samples were spiked at 0.1 and 0.01 mg/kg. The mean recoveries of these insecticides in the spiked samples were 74-92% with relative standard deviation less than 20%. The residues of imidacloprid, endosulfan and deltamethrin were detected with a range of 0.005-0.055 mg/kg while other insecticides were not detected in any samples. The results obtained, point the urgent need to establish reliable monitoring programs in honey.