Protecting nontarget organisms during a pesticide application is always important, according to Scott Bretthauer, U of I Extension Specialist. It can be especially difficult, however, if you don't know exactly what or where those nontarget organisms are. Such can be the case with bees. Although most applicators are aware that protecting bees from pesticides is important, many don't know exactly how to go about determining whether or not there is a potential for bees to be near their application site.
Bees, whether they are honey bees or wild bees, are beneficial insects. One of their most important roles is pollinating plants, including field crops, fruit, vegetables, and other crops. Applying a pesticide directly to blooming plants or allowing a pesticide to drift onto blooming plants can be fatal to bees. To protect their important role in agricultural production, it is critical to prevent inadvertent injury to bees from pesticides. While the following guidelines can help protect bees, remember to always read the label for more specific information on bee safety. The label tells you whether or not the pesticide is toxic to bees. If possible, use a pesticide with low toxicity to bees.
Insecticides are generally more toxic to bees than other types of pesticides. If bees are near the application site, it is especially important to select a pesticide with low toxicity to bees if possible. The type of formulation also affects a pesticide's toxicity to bees. In general, granules and or pellets are safer to bees than sprays. Emulsifiable concentrates are less toxic to bees than wettable powders. Microencapsulated formulations of insecticides that are toxic to bees can be especially hazardous because the bees can carry the capsules back to their hive and wipe out the entire colony.
If you have to use a pesticide that is toxic to bees for an application near bees, try to make the application during a time when bees are least active. This can greatly reduce the risk of bee deaths. Before dawn and after dusk are times when bee activity is lower, so these would be safer times to make an application. Because bees do not fly actively at temperatures lower than 55 degrees F, cooler weather is also a safer time to make applications when bee safety is a concern.
If using a less-toxic pesticide or spraying when bees are not active is not possible, you will need to notify beekeepers about the upcoming application so they can take the appropriate measures to protect their bees. This could involve moving the colony or protecting by other means. You need to notify beekeepers at least 48 hours before the application is to be made. All beekeepers within 3 miles of the application site should be notified because bees can fly that far.
All three options discussed above–using a product less toxic to bees when spraying near them, spraying when bees are less active, or notifying a beekeeper about the coming application–require you to be aware of beekeepers near the application site. So how do you find out about nearby beekeepers? The Illinois Bees and Apiaries Act requires beekeepers to register their hives with the Illinois Department of Agriculture's Illinois Bees and Apiaries Program, which maintains a list of all beekeepers and the locations for all colonies in Illinois.
To register their colonies with the Illinois Department of Agriculture, beekeepers need only to submit a one-page form, which is available online. There is no charge for registration, and a registration certificate is provided as proof of the registration. You can learn more about the Illinois Bees and apiaries Act and Program by visiting
New beekeepers are required to register within 10 days of acquiring bees, and beekeepers moving to Illinois have a 10-day period in which to register after arriving in the state. In addition to this initial registration, Illinois beekeepers are required every November to renew their registration. This ensures that an accurate and up-to-date list of bee colonies within Illinois is maintained. Required information for registration includes the beekeeper's name, address, county of residence, and phone number. For each apiary maintained by the beekeeper, the county, township, section number, address (or directions to), and number of colonies at the apiary must be provided. In addition, the name of the land-owner or person on the premise where the apiary is located must also be provided. Apiaries registered with the Illinois Department of Agriculture may be identified by weatherproof lettering at least a half an inch in height on the front of a hive.
Pesticide applicators can use this list of bee colonies in Illinois to determine if any hives are near the intended application site. There are two ways to access the list. The first is to phone the Illinois Bees and Apiaries Program at 217/782-6297. Another option is to contact your local University of Illinois Extension office. Each Extension office annually receives the list of beehives. By checking for nearby bee apiaries before making a pesticide application, you can help protect bees and the prominent role they play in Illinois Agriculture.
Source: Scott Bretthauer, Extension Specialist, Pesticide Safety Education, sbrettha@uiuc.edu
