Protecting Your Bees from Pesticides

Many beekeepers live in rural areas of the country, and when spring comes, so do the insect and weed control poisons that farmers depend on to protect their fields. This is a concern to some beekeepers, since their hives are located on land that is regularly treated with these toxins. There are ways, however to protect the hives and your colonies of bees.

The first step to protecting your bees is to find out what toxins are going to be used in the area in which you live. Check with the local Farmer's Coop, County Extension Agent, or your state Department of Agriculture. Once you know the chemical agents that are being used, the second step is to find out which flowering plants they will be used on.

Armed with this information you can readily see whether your colony visits nearby areas that have been treated with toxic chemicals. It may very well be that even though the chemicals are being used in your area, they are not being used in close enough proximity to your colony to be considered a risk factor.

The third thing that you need to know in order to deal effectively with toxins is their duration. By knowing how long the pesticide or insecticide being used is effective, it will enable you to do some calculating as far as how long you need to protect your hive.

In protecting your hive from pesticides, it is important to cover each entrance with a fine screen mesh. Do this while the bees are asleep. Then cover the hive with a tarp which will allow air flow. If it is to remain in place for extended periods, it should be moistened on a regular basis, to take advantage of the evaporative cooling effects of water. If you have done your homework and found out the duration of the chemical exposure, then you will know when it is safe to remove the entry covering and the hive covering to allow the bees to exhibit a more natural lifestyle.

Many people question if they should take precautions when their neighbor is spraying their roses. The answer is no. It is large scale spraying operations that should be the concern of the beekeeper. Your neighbor and his little spray bottle is not going to significantly affect your colony, but if the county is spraying right-of-ways to kill weeds and grasses, then you should be concerned. No beekeeper wants to wake up to discover dead bees littering the ground around the hive, and with a little action on the beekeeper's part, this scene can be eliminated.

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