Pesticides

Question 1

What are systemic pesticides?

Answer 1

Used upon plants and taken up so they affect all of the plant. Bees can be contaminated through guttation water or drinking nectar

Question 2

What size colony is infected more by pesticide?

Answer 2

Larger colonies as they have a greater foraging force so a greater exposure

Question 3

How do pesticides build up in the colony?

Answer 3

Can build up in the wax
Can build up in stores

Question 4

What are the impacts of pesticides?

Answer 4

• Surfactants kill bees
• Weaken immune system
• Synergisitc effects with other chemicals
• kill individuals

Question 5

What is the recommend spray liason system?

Answer 5

Each association should have spray liaison officer
They can communicate with farmers and members

Question 6

What should you do if your colony is damaged by spraying

Answer 6

Get a sample of 200 dead bees and send to the NBU
Get 2 more samples and place in freezer
Note the time and date of spraying
Reduce hive entrance to prevent robbing as the colony will be weak
Feed 1:1 to dilute toxic effects
Add a frame of workers to stabilise colony