Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
 

I have to declare my interest, I am both a gardener, of sorts, and a
bee keeper. I expect that some of you will, from time to time, use
chemical pesticides on your plants. If you do then I would like to
draw your attention to a problem created by one in particular. To
those of you who don't may I seek information from you on
environmentally friendly alternatives which you have used to control
pests.

One chemical has been in the news lately, imidacloprid. Its effect on
bees is to cause them to lose their sense of direction and to become
lost. This chemical is marketed under a variety of brand names and is
licensed for use on several plants in the UK. Restrictions are placed
on its use when the plant is in flower and when spraying on leaves.
The chemical is slowly released inside the plant. I suspect that the
chemical is to be found in high concentration in both the nectar and
pollen of treated plants. Bees thus get a double dose. But I have to
admit that to my knowledge no studies have been carried out into this
so I may well be in error. In south-west France where the chemical is
used differently from the UK honey production has fallen by 60%. The
number of Registered hives in France is reputed to have fallen by one
third. Originally the number was around 1.5 million. However, the
pesticide companies claim that their products are not responsible for
killing bees. UK bee keepers claim that from its introduction they
noticed that bees were becoming disorientated, getting lost and dying.
This is just one product used here to illustrate a growing problem.
There are many more.

This is one hobby which lurches from one crises to another and not
because of the bee!

Whilst I don't use pesticides in my garden I do use other means of
keeping the bugs at bay. I try to live and cooperate with nature as
much as possible, not always successfully. The problem I have is in
finding environmentally friendly solutions to replace the savage and
indiscriminate ones offered by the chemical industry. I am having
difficultly in finding a central point which provides this sort of
information in an easily understandable way. Constructive advice on
this would be appreciated.

Pearson.

Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
 

In article , Pearson Reid
writes
may I seek information from you on
environmentally friendly alternatives which you have used to control
pests.

In this area, beekeepers are forewarned of aerial crop spraying where
any substances which may harm bees are to be used. I understand that a
similar arrangement can be introduced in any area where beekeepers
request it, though I don't know how such a request is made.

I am a life-long organic gardener. I don't use commercially manufactured
pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilisers or other environmentally
unfriendly chemicals.

I also happen to be allergic to bee and other insect stings. As they
rarely bother me (2 stings in 25 years), I prefer their contribution to
my gardening to any which poisonous substances could make.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
 

In article , Pearson Reid
writes
may I seek information from you on
environmentally friendly alternatives which you have used to control
pests.

In this area, beekeepers are forewarned of aerial crop spraying where
any substances which may harm bees are to be used. I understand that a
similar arrangement can be introduced in any area where beekeepers
request it, though I don't know how such a request is made.

I am a life-long organic gardener. I don't use commercially manufactured
pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilisers or other environmentally
unfriendly chemicals.

I also happen to be allergic to bee and other insect stings. As they
rarely bother me (2 stings in 25 years), I prefer their contribution to
my gardening to any which poisonous substances could make.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
 

In article , Pearson Reid
writes
may I seek information from you on
environmentally friendly alternatives which you have used to control
pests.

In this area, beekeepers are forewarned of aerial crop spraying where
any substances which may harm bees are to be used. I understand that a
similar arrangement can be introduced in any area where beekeepers
request it, though I don't know how such a request is made.

I am a life-long organic gardener. I don't use commercially manufactured
pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilisers or other environmentally
unfriendly chemicals.

I also happen to be allergic to bee and other insect stings. As they
rarely bother me (2 stings in 25 years), I prefer their contribution to
my gardening to any which poisonous substances could make.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 11:49:11 +0000, Pearson Reid
wrote:

I have to declare my interest, I am both a gardener, of sorts, and a
bee keeper. I expect that some of you will, from time to time, use
chemical pesticides on your plants. If you do then I would like to
draw your attention to a problem created by one in particular. To
those of you who don't may I seek information from you on
environmentally friendly alternatives which you have used to control
pests.

One chemical has been in the news lately, imidacloprid. Its effect on
bees is to cause them to lose their sense of direction and to become
lost. This chemical is marketed under a variety of brand names and is
licensed for use on several plants in the UK. Restrictions are placed
on its use when the plant is in flower and when spraying on leaves.
The chemical is slowly released inside the plant. I suspect that the
chemical is to be found in high concentration in both the nectar and
pollen of treated plants. Bees thus get a double dose. But I have to
admit that to my knowledge no studies have been carried out into this
so I may well be in error. In south-west France where the chemical is
used differently from the UK honey production has fallen by 60%. The
number of Registered hives in France is reputed to have fallen by one
third.

I have to say I have noticed no problems here with it, and my apiary
is no more than 60 metres away from the areas where we use it
(according to the instructions) Most of what we use is under glass
though and on a small outdoor area of container plants. FWIW the last
3 years have been amongst my best bee years. We are trying to use
nematodes more on the ornamentals as we always have on food crops.
Rod

Weed my email address to reply
http://website.lineone.net/~rodcraddock/index.html

Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 11:49:11 +0000, Pearson Reid
wrote:

I have to declare my interest, I am both a gardener, of sorts, and a
bee keeper. I expect that some of you will, from time to time, use
chemical pesticides on your plants. If you do then I would like to
draw your attention to a problem created by one in particular. To
those of you who don't may I seek information from you on
environmentally friendly alternatives which you have used to control
pests.

One chemical has been in the news lately, imidacloprid. Its effect on
bees is to cause them to lose their sense of direction and to become
lost. This chemical is marketed under a variety of brand names and is
licensed for use on several plants in the UK. Restrictions are placed
on its use when the plant is in flower and when spraying on leaves.
The chemical is slowly released inside the plant. I suspect that the
chemical is to be found in high concentration in both the nectar and
pollen of treated plants. Bees thus get a double dose. But I have to
admit that to my knowledge no studies have been carried out into this
so I may well be in error. In south-west France where the chemical is
used differently from the UK honey production has fallen by 60%. The
number of Registered hives in France is reputed to have fallen by one
third.

I have to say I have noticed no problems here with it, and my apiary
is no more than 60 metres away from the areas where we use it
(according to the instructions) Most of what we use is under glass
though and on a small outdoor area of container plants. FWIW the last
3 years have been amongst my best bee years. We are trying to use
nematodes more on the ornamentals as we always have on food crops.
Rod

Weed my email address to reply
http://website.lineone.net/~rodcraddock/index.html

Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 11:49:11 +0000, Pearson Reid
wrote:

I have to declare my interest, I am both a gardener, of sorts, and a
bee keeper. I expect that some of you will, from time to time, use
chemical pesticides on your plants. If you do then I would like to
draw your attention to a problem created by one in particular. To
those of you who don't may I seek information from you on
environmentally friendly alternatives which you have used to control
pests.

One chemical has been in the news lately, imidacloprid. Its effect on
bees is to cause them to lose their sense of direction and to become
lost. This chemical is marketed under a variety of brand names and is
licensed for use on several plants in the UK. Restrictions are placed
on its use when the plant is in flower and when spraying on leaves.
The chemical is slowly released inside the plant. I suspect that the
chemical is to be found in high concentration in both the nectar and
pollen of treated plants. Bees thus get a double dose. But I have to
admit that to my knowledge no studies have been carried out into this
so I may well be in error. In south-west France where the chemical is
used differently from the UK honey production has fallen by 60%. The
number of Registered hives in France is reputed to have fallen by one
third.

I have to say I have noticed no problems here with it, and my apiary
is no more than 60 metres away from the areas where we use it
(according to the instructions) Most of what we use is under glass
though and on a small outdoor area of container plants. FWIW the last
3 years have been amongst my best bee years. We are trying to use
nematodes more on the ornamentals as we always have on food crops.
Rod

Weed my email address to reply
http://website.lineone.net/~rodcraddock/index.html

Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 19:02:22 +0000, this pearl of wisdom arrived from
Alan Gould :

In this area, beekeepers are forewarned of aerial crop spraying where
any substances which may harm bees are to be used. I understand that a
similar arrangement can be introduced in any area where beekeepers
request it, though I don't know how such a request is made.

The chemical in question is systemic and its effect last a long time.
long after the spraying has taken place.

Pearson

Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 19:02:22 +0000, this pearl of wisdom arrived from
Alan Gould :

In this area, beekeepers are forewarned of aerial crop spraying where
any substances which may harm bees are to be used. I understand that a
similar arrangement can be introduced in any area where beekeepers
request it, though I don't know how such a request is made.

The chemical in question is systemic and its effect last a long time.
long after the spraying has taken place.

Pearson

Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 19:02:22 +0000, this pearl of wisdom arrived from
Alan Gould :

In this area, beekeepers are forewarned of aerial crop spraying where
any substances which may harm bees are to be used. I understand that a
similar arrangement can be introduced in any area where beekeepers
request it, though I don't know how such a request is made.

The chemical in question is systemic and its effect last a long time.
long after the spraying has taken place.

Pearson

Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
 

Awful to hear about the demise of lovely bees this way. We have about
half an acre where we grow vegetables and have about 15 fruit trees etc.
The only things we use are seaweed solution and comfrey tea for
nutrients and some pests don't like the smell (neither do I but...).
I did experiment with rhubarb tea but heard that was now illegal.
Companion planting seems to work - lots of garlic, nasturtiums and
marigolds. We look after the frogs/toads, hedgehogs, birds & nice
insects and they seem to keep nasty things at bay - plus a few slug
traps using yeast.
All this in London!
Wood lice are my only bete noire at the moment - so any help there would
be appreciated.
Good luck with the bees.
--
Jan

Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
 

Awful to hear about the demise of lovely bees this way. We have about
half an acre where we grow vegetables and have about 15 fruit trees etc.
The only things we use are seaweed solution and comfrey tea for
nutrients and some pests don't like the smell (neither do I but...).
I did experiment with rhubarb tea but heard that was now illegal.
Companion planting seems to work - lots of garlic, nasturtiums and
marigolds. We look after the frogs/toads, hedgehogs, birds & nice
insects and they seem to keep nasty things at bay - plus a few slug
traps using yeast.
All this in London!
Wood lice are my only bete noire at the moment - so any help there would
be appreciated.
Good luck with the bees.
--
Jan

Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
 

In article , Alan Gould
writes
In this area, beekeepers are forewarned of aerial crop spraying where
any substances which may harm bees are to be used. I understand that a
similar arrangement can be introduced in any area where beekeepers
request it, though I don't know how such a request is made.

Under the new regulations, one of the questions on the form the farmer
has to fill in prior to spraying is the name and address of the local
spray liaison officer. Luckily our Beekeeping Association has a very
keen spray liaison officer, though he has not had a lot to do these last
few years, as most farmers are happy to spray in the evening, as there
is usually less wind then.

John
--
John Rouse

Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
 

In article , Alan Gould
writes
In this area, beekeepers are forewarned of aerial crop spraying where
any substances which may harm bees are to be used. I understand that a
similar arrangement can be introduced in any area where beekeepers
request it, though I don't know how such a request is made.

Under the new regulations, one of the questions on the form the farmer
has to fill in prior to spraying is the name and address of the local
spray liaison officer. Luckily our Beekeeping Association has a very
keen spray liaison officer, though he has not had a lot to do these last
few years, as most farmers are happy to spray in the evening, as there
is usually less wind then.

John
--
John Rouse

Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
 

On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 18:28:34 +0000, this pearl of wisdom arrived from
John Rouse :

In article , Alan Gould
writes
In this area, beekeepers are forewarned of aerial crop spraying where
any substances which may harm bees are to be used. I understand that a
similar arrangement can be introduced in any area where beekeepers
request it, though I don't know how such a request is made.

Under the new regulations, one of the questions on the form the farmer
has to fill in prior to spraying is the name and address of the local
spray liaison officer. Luckily our Beekeeping Association has a very
keen spray liaison officer, though he has not had a lot to do these last
few years, as most farmers are happy to spray in the evening, as there
is usually less wind then.

John

The chemical in question is systemic. That means it remains in the
plant tissues for some time and is passed out via nectar and pollen
long after the spraying has taken place. That is why so many of us are
concerned about it.

Pearson