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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 |
Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 15:04:46 +0000, this pearl of wisdom arrived from
Jan : 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. Thankyou for your useful contribution. Pearson |
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 |
Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 15:04:46 +0000, this pearl of wisdom arrived from
Jan : 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. Thankyou for your useful contribution. Pearson |
Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
In article , Pearson Reid wrote:
[of wishing to kill pests but not bees] Wandering past from across the ditch g but .. we have trouble keeping enough bees around in this part of the Southern California desert to pollinate fruit and such, so I try not to kill them off (there is one weak hive here somewhere that I wish I could find so I could feed it without feeding every ant for miles around -- BTW I used to work for a professional beekeeper). Anyway, have found that using soap-based sprays works well against pests but doesn't seem to bother the bees or the equally useful hunter wasps. It also makes tomatoes go berserk, grow vines 12+ feet long, and produce bushels of fruit :) ~REZ~ |
Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
"Alan Gould" wrote in message ... 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. *************************** Crop-spraying?, Tsk, tsk.!. Who's going to pay for that lot?. Even using one sprayer it's no use nipping down to the local petrolpump, two-gallon can in hand. And then there's the kite ("Aircraft" to non-ex-Brylcreem boys), then there's the Peelow to pay and they also don't come cheap. P.S. Re the stings. has thee thought've staying off't cider for a bit and see if that stops 'em bitin'?, - or is that too much of a sacrifice? (Tee-Hee!). Doug, - Furness peninsular. Sth. Cumbria. *************************** |
Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
"Jan" wrote in message ... 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 **************************** Talking of toads. I have a quite small pond carrying seven goldfish and they flourish whether I feed them or not, so I feed them spasmodically. One fish uses the smaller part of the pond so I think it might be a female. - but I have seen no breeding going on. The pond is fifteen years old and is a stagnant pond aerated with those long furry-type weed plants. Three waterlilies abide in it. It is a living entity and even has insects and small leeches in residence. I don't know just where are getting their blood from but I make sure it is not mine. I occasionally give it a freshen up with a hose pipe of tap water which seems to do no harm; at this operation I net out some filth from the bottom with a kiddies hand net. To come to the point. Ten years ago and for the ensuing three years I seeded it with toad and frog taddies from local ponds. They flourished but gradually the frogs failed to return to spawn. The toads did well and matured to full four legged status and each year they all came, spawned and then disappeared from the pond, matured, went a.w.o.l. within one day as though at a given signal and were reported to be in neighbouring gardens for a few weeks.. I have never seen a slug in my garden for eight years and even the snail population is much reduced. I have taken the trouble to write the above because this year there are no spawn clumps in the pond, and no taddies. I don't think there are enough leeches to attack the toads. Do toads have blood?. Then again, what *are* those leeches living off?. - the seven fish?. (all the fish are about six inches in length). they seem to be bursting with health and have no marks on them. Anybody know about this problem?. Doug |
Pesticide time is nearly upon us. Which ones will you be using?
"Douglas" wrote in message ... "Alan Gould" wrote in message ... In article , Pearson Reid writes may I seek information from you on environmentally friendly alternatives which you have used to control pests. FWIW we started using Bug-Gone last year, which is a systemic pest control. It zaps the bugs that munch the plants or suck their sap. No effect on bees etc. It appeared to be extremely effective. |
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