sign in sign up
<<
Home , Pyriproxyfen

PROTECT HONEY BEES FROM Wm. Michael Hood, Ph.D., Extension Apiculturist

Honey bees are our most beneficial insect. The estimated value of honey bee pollination in the US is $14 billion. Many commercially grown crops in South Carolina are heavily dependent on honey bees for good pollination. Annual farm cash receipts of crops harvested in South Carolina that are dependent on honey bees for pollination are estimated at $25 million. This does not include home-grown vegetables and fruits and plants for wildlife that are highly dependent on honey bees for pollination.

Use integrated pest management recommendations whenever possible to minimize harmful effects to our beneficial insects. Many pesticides are extremely toxic to honey bees. The kind and amount of is important. Pesticides should be used only when necessary, especially if flowering plants are present that are attractive to bees. Select the least toxic pesticide to get the job done when possible and use the least hazardous method of application. Granular pesticide formulations are safest. Directed sprays applied with ground equipment are the next safest method for applying pesticides to protect bees. Aerially applied dusts or sprays are the most likely to contact bees and cause problems. Apply pesticides when the air is calm to reduce drift into areas where bees may be foraging or nesting. If a pesticide application is necessary, apply in late afternoon or evening when bees are not present. If managed bee colonies are present, it is best to give the beekeeper plenty of notice -- 3-4 days if possible -- of your intentions. The beekeeper has the option to relocate his bee colonies if adjacent fields are to be sprayed. If bee colonies cannot be removed on short notice, the beekeeper may cover his beehives with wet burlap for no longer than 2 days. It will be necessary for the beekeeper to spray covered hives with water and keep the burlap wet, especially in hot weather.

Beekeepers are advised to cooperate with growers in the area to help protect bees. Beekeepers should scout the area before bee colony placement to gain a good understanding of local farming practices, especially the use of highly toxic pesticides. Beekeepers are ill-advised to place their colonies in pest density areas which require multiple pesticide applications. An example is cotton growing areas where boll weevil eradication is expected. Beekeepers should post their name and contact information in the apiary or on colonies for identification purposes.

The following pesticides are grouped according to their relative toxicity to honey bees. ______clofentezine (Apollo) Group I - Highly Toxic. Severe bee (Poncho 600) losses are expected if these pesticides are applied crotoxyphos (Cyodrin) to flowering crops or weeds which are attractive to (Baythroid) bees or when these pesticides are applied near a (Karate, Warrior) beehive. These pesticides will remain hazardous (Ammo, Cymbush) to foraging bees for up to 24 hours or longer. d- (Sumithrin) decamethrin (Decis) abamectin (Agri-Mek, Zephyr) (Decis) (Orthene, Address) (Diazinon, Spectracide) (Matacil) (DDVP, Vapona) arsenicals (Bidrin) avemectin (AVID) (Cygon, Dimethoate, azinphosmethyl (Guthion) Rebelate) (Ficam) emamectin (Proclaim) benzene hexachloride (BHC) (Thiodan) (Brigade, Capture) EPN bifenazate (Acramite) (Asana) bonyl (Swat) ethyl (Parathion) famoxadone (Famoxate) (Sevin, Sevin 80 S, Sevin XLR-Plus) famphur (Famphos) (Furadan) (Sumithion)) (Vantage) (Danitol, Dasanit) (Dursban, Eradex, Lorsban) fensulfothion (Dasanit) (Fortress) (Baytex) (Ectrin, Pydrin) Group II - Moderately flucythrinate (Pay Off) Hazardous. These can be used around famoxadone (Famoxate) bees if dosage, timing, and method of application (Carzol) are correct, but should not be applied directly on gamma-cyhalothrin, (Proaxis) bees in the field or directed at the hive. hexythiazox (Savey) (Temik) (Admire, Provado) aspon (ASP-51) imidan aldicarb sulfoxide (Avaunt, Steward) (Assail) lambda-cyhalothrin (Commodore, Warrior) aluminum phosphide (Phostoxin) lead arsenate Bacillus thuringiensis (Di-Beta) (BHC) bifenazate (Floramite) LPOS (Sulfotine, RAID TVK) binapacryl (Cythion, ULV) biothion (Monitor, Tameron) carbaryl (Sevin XLR formulation, Sevinmol) (Supracide) carbanolate (Banol) (Mesurol) (Trithion) (Lannate, Nudrin) chlorfeninphos (Sopona) methprene (Agridip, Asunthol, Co-Ral) methyl parathion (Penncap-M) crotoxyphos (Ciodrin) methyl parathion EC cypermethrin (Ammo) (Phosdrin) (Trigard) mexacarbate (Zectran) deltamethrin (Decis) (Azodrin) demeton (Systox) (Dibrom)2 demeton-s-methyl (Metasystox) (Folimat) diatomaceous earth (Diatect) (Vydate >1 lb/A) (Di-Syston) parathion dichlofenthion (Cidial) (Delnav) phenamiphos (Nemacur P) DSMA (Ambush, Gard Star, Pounce) emamectin benzoate (Proclaim) (Thimet EC) endosulfan (Thiodan <0.5 lb/A, Thionex) phosdrin endrin phosmet (Imidan) (Ethodan) (Dimecron) ethoprop (Mocap) polymer-encapsulated methyl parathion ethyulan (Perthane) (Penncap-M) fluvalinate (Mavrik) (ETOH) (Dyfonate) proparite (Omite) formetanate (Carzol) (Baygon) fundal (Galecron) pyridaben (Pyramite) malathion (Cythion, ULV <3 fl oz/A) pyrazophos (Afugan) methyl demeton (Metasystox) (Synthrin, SPB-1382) spinosid (XDE-105, Tracer) MSMA (Confirm) neem (Azatin, Neemix) TEPP2 oil sprays (superior type) (Appex, Gardona) oxamyl (Vydate <0.5 lb/A) thiamethoxam (Actara, Platinum) oxydemeton-methyl (Metasystox R) (Scout) paraquat perthane zeta-cypermethrin (Fury, Mustang) phorate (Thimet) (Zolone) (Pirimor) profenfox (Curacron) propamocarb (Carbamult) propamocarb hydrochloride (Banol) pymetrozine (Fulfill) Pyramat pyriproxyfen (Esteem) RDE (Rhonthane)

2 ronnel (Co-Ral, Korlan) dichlone (Phygon) sabadilla (Kelthane) (SpinTor, Conserve SC, Entrust) difolatan sulprofos (Bolstar) (Dimilin) stirofos (Rabon) dimite (DMC) sumithrin (Anvillollo) dinobuton (Dessin) summer oil dinocap (Karathane) tartar emetic diquat TDE disulfoton (Di-Syston G) temephos (Abate) dodine (Cyprex) (Counter) dyrene trichlronate (Agritox) endothall (Calypso, YRC-2894) EPTC (Eptam) (Actara, Platinum) ethephon (Ethrel) thiazopyr (Mandate, Visor) ethion (Ethion) thiodicarb (Larvin) ethoprop (Mocap G) trichoronate (Agritox) fenbutatin-oxide (Vendex) zephyr fenhexamid (Elevate) fenson (Murvesco) ferbam Group III - Relatively fluvalinate (Mavrik, Spur) Nonhazardous. These folpet (Phaltan) garlic barrier can be used around bees with a genite 923 minimal risk of injury. glyodin (Glyoxide) allethrin (Pynamin) heliothis polyhedrosis virus (Mitac) hexythiazox (Savey) amitrole kaolin (Surround) avermectin (Agr-Mek) karathane (Dinocap) (Align) kepone azoxystrobin (Abound) malathion (Malathion G) Bacillus thuringiensis (Biobit, DiPel, menazon (Saphos) Full-Bac, Javelin, MVP) mancozeb (Dithane M-45) Baculovirus heliothis maneb (Dithane M-22) Beauveria (Mycotrol) MCPA benomyl (Benlate) menazon (Saphos) binapacryl (Morocide) metaldehyde (Metaldehyde Bait) bordeaux mixture (Altosid) bromopropylate (Acarol) (Marlate) bromoxynil metiram (Polyram) - F1 capsaicin (Hot Pepper Wax) monuron (Telvar) captan myclobutanil (Rally) carbaryl (Sevin G, Bait G) nabam (Parzate) carbofuran (Furadan G) nemagon chloramben neotran chlorbenzide (Mitox) nicotine chlorobenzilate (Acaraben) nicotine sulfate (Fundal) ovex chlorobenzilate (Acaraben) oxythioquinox (Morestan) chlorothalonil (Bravo) pentac copper compounds (Kocide) propargite (Omite) copper oxychloride sulphate pyrethrum (natural) copper 8-quinolinolate pyrimidinamine (Vangard) copper sulfate (Monohydrated) pyriproxyfen (Esteem) cryolite (Cryolite, Kryocide) rotenone (Rotenone) cyromazine (Trigard) ryania (Rynodine) dalapon sabadilla dazomet (Mylone) silvex demeton (Systox) simazine (Princep) dexon soap (M-Pede) diazinon (Diazinon G) sulfur dicamba (Banvel D) tebufenozide (Confirm)

3

TDE (Rhothane) (Tedion) tetram thioquinox (Eradex) thiram (Arasan) trichlorfon (Dylox) trifloxystrobin (Flint) vendex zineb (Dithane) ziram 2,4-D 2,4-DB 2,4,5-T

1Fungicides

2Mevinphos (Phosdrin*), naled (Dibrom*), and TEPP have short residual activity and kill only the bees contacted at time of treatment or shortly thereafter. They are usually safe to use when bees are not in flight; they are not safe to use around colonies.

3Not all Bacillus thuringiensis are safe for bees. The label for XenTari® (Valent BioSciences), with active ingredient B. thuringiensis aizawai, reads "This product is highly toxic to honey bees exposed to direct treatment. Do not apply this product while bees are actively visiting the treatment area."

4List or information derived in part from Delaplane, K., University of Georgia, Tarpy, D., North Carolina State University, Fell, R., Virginia Tech, Johansen, C.A. and Mayer, D.F. Pollination Protection. 1990, Wicwas Press; Bulletin E-53-W, Hunt, G.J., Purdue University; Environmental Entomology 33(5):1151-115

4

5