Simple method for the determination of trace levels of pesticides in honeybees using matrix solid-phase dispersion and gas chromatography Abstract A simple multiresidue method for the determination of insecticides in honeybees is described. The developed method is based on the matrix solid-phase dispersion technique. A total number of 12 insecticides (azinfos-methyl, buprofezin, chlorpyriphos, chlorpyriphos-methyl, diazinon, ethion, fenitrothion, fipronil, methidathion, phosalone, pirimicarb, propoxur) used on flowering fields are determined by this method. The method uses Florisil and silica as dispersing agents, alumina and silica as cleanup adsorbents and a low polarity solvent system to elute pesticide residues from the honeybee samples. The insecticides were quantified using capillary gas chromatography with a nitrogen–phosphorus detector. The method has shown good recovery (70–110%) for various levels of spiked samples (0.01–1.0 mg/kg). The relative standard deviations were in the range of 2–8% for all pesticides studied. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.005–0.05 mg/kg. The procedure can be applied for the determination of residues of low-polarity and medium polarity pesticides in honeybee samples.