The city I live in sprays for mosquitos this time of year. Usually a truck drives around in the evening with a fogger on the back. It is a foul smelling fog, and we close up the house tight. I have one hive in my backyard, I live on a corner lot, and was wondering if the mosquito sprays affect the bee's. Does anyone else keep bee's in a city that fogs for mosquitos?
I didn't notice any issues last year, but was wondering. I just did a websearch and found that my city uses sumithrin and chlorpyrifos for mosquito spraying.
First off Chlorpyrifos is an Organophosphate and is a restricted use pesticide. These class of pesticides where severely restricted under Clinton, and there use limited due to the danger to children. Chlorpyrifos is better known as Dursban, a great insecticide, but not overly safe if you get a large exposure. I do know of a few people who ended up in hospital after applying this product. Great insecticide=Dead Bees unfortunately.
Sumithrin sounds like a synthetic pyrethroid. Any synthetic pyrethroid is intended to kill insects via various modes of action.
In both cases the residual effect of these products would be a concern to me. These products would adhere to foliage that bees might alight to, and so carry this product back to the hive.
I would ask if you can request that they do not fog in front of you home is possible, maybe your neighbors would join in also. I thought that in Nashville people could post a sign asking for no treatment.
As they might fog at night I think you might only notice a slight problem, as this is generally the time they fog, late afternoon to early evening.
Hope this helps
Bryn
I know they sprayed for mosquitos here in the Sacramento Region a couple of years ago and many beeks lost their hives.
I would want to close up my hives and perhaps cover them with something. Maybe a wet sheet???
Here in Placerville I am on a call list for the county and they are supposed to call me if and when they decide to spray.
This truly scares me to death, all this mosquito sprayiing.
You're worried about the bees? I don't want to breath that stuff!!!!