3.28 -3.29 - Spray Liaison/Damage

Question 1

3.28 An outline description of a spray liaison scheme operated by a beekeeping association;

Answer 1

The Association appoints a Spray Liaison Officer:

The Spray Liaison Officer is the key contact internally and externally for Spray matters

The Spray Liaison Officer promotes communication with local farmers and their associations (including spray contractors)

Central point of contact between farmers, spray contractors and beekeepers

Both the Spray Liaison officer and their opposite number at the NFU need access to beekeepers, their apiaries including telephone numbers and addresses, map references of apiaries and how many hives

The County Association Web-site and Literature advertise Spray Liaison Officer along with similar roles such as Swarm Officer

Each branch has a local spray liaison officer who has all the details of beekeepers in his own area.

When a farmer or spray contractor intends ot spray, he advises the spray liaison officer at the NFU who then notifies the CSLO

The Association publishes a process for communicating Spray events to all members and key external contacts.

The process covers:

How information from a notification of spraying is distributed to members of the Association

How information from a notification of suspected poisoning is distributed

Publish the process on and educate the members on the action to be taken if poisoning suspected.

Question 2

Action to be taken when spray damage is suspected

Answer 2

A sudden reduction in the number of foraging bees, a large number of dead or dying bees outside the hive, may indicate poisoning by bees alighting on sprayed crops.

Legislation has reduced the number of incidents.

Apart from the evidence of dead bees, the colony may become bad tempered and shivering, staggering and crawling bees may be seen (similar to CBPV).

Returning foragers spin around on the ground until they die.

Dead bees usually have their proboscis (‘tongue’) extended.

If you suspect poisoning, contact your association’s Spray Liaison Officer.

Note time and day and try to locate location and time of spraying and witnesses.

If possible take 3 samples of 200 dead bees – use a paper or cardboard container not plastic – bees carrying pollen loads are useful in identifying the source of the problem.

• Send one sample to the National Bee Unit, Sand Hutton, Yorkshire, YO4 1BF, including all known details.
• Keep the remaining two samples in the deep freezer for future use. Do not expect a speedy response.

If the colony is badly depleted reduce the entrance to guard against robbing.

Question 3

Types of Pesticides

Answer 3

1. Systemic - taken up by the plant through its roots and leaves (neonics
2. Specific - attacks a specific insect or plant

Question 4

Ways bees can be poisoned by sprays

Answer 4

1. The crop the bees are working on is being sprayed
2. A crop that’s being sprayed is not flowering but is surrounded by flowering weeds
3. When a bee is flying over a crop that is being sprayed
4. When the wind drives the spray towards the hive

Question 5

Strength of Poisoning

Answer 5

Acute - killing more than 50% of bees within a colony

1. kills 50% of the foragers therefore other bees have to take their roles
2. leads to an imbalance within the hive and possibly to its collapse

Sublethal - no apparent mortality to the colony but individuals suffer long term effects of poisoning

1. Reduced cognitive function (learning, memory, navigation)
2. Reduced ability to forage

Chronic - can effect both the individual bee and the colony

1. Delayed development of larvae, shortened lifespan of bees because of infected larvae
2. May weaken the colony leading to colony collapse