Need Advice on Pest Control Company

[annette]

My bees, as some of you know, are located up the block from me on 20 acres. This is a Yoga Center and they have allowed me to keep my bees there.

Well found out they are having a pest control company come tomorrow to evaluate for termites. I have been a nervous wreck since finding this out. You see my bees are foraging all over flowers that are up against the perimeter of the house.

I have asked to be there when the company comes and they said yes I can be.  So I need to know what questions to ask them. I know the basic ones,

1.  What kind of chemical are they using
2.  What time of day would they be spraying
3.  Will there be drift onto the flowers around the house.
4.  Can they spray early or late in the day (although with the temps now into the 90's the bees are out early and come back very late at night)


Anything else I need to know or any ideas.  I already lost a hive this Spring from pesticide poisoning and my 2 surviving hives are really strong right now. I would be devastated if I lost them.

Thanks for any help
Annette

[Pink Cow]

Annette,
I don't know anything about pest control practices but if they are after termites they may not have to spray anything outside. We had a house treated for subterranean termites, which is by far the most common type they said, and they just sprayed cracks and other openings in the house, and injected most of it into the soil. If they do spray and use this method, they should probably be able to avoid contaminating the plants. I understand that many treatments use bait now rather than spray, so that obviously would not be a problem either. Make your wishes clear and I bet they'll be able to work with you on it.

[montauk170]

I'm no expert in termites but have had two homes done. Like Pink Cow said for subterranean termites, nothing is sprayed. They inject chemicals into the ground.
If drywood, they can treat it local using various forms but never a spray. If spray, it could be just orange oil, and it's non-toxic. If they use Vikane gas and tent the entire unit, I would be worried about the gas leaking from the tent and affecting your hives. The termite company will probably say the gas that leaks out will dissipate fast into the air but that's up to you if you want to take that risk. Neighbors never vacate when next door is tenting (but maybe they should). So I guess first see what type of termite and what method they will use to treat.

[annette]

This is making me feel much better already. Yes, one step at a time. Tomorrow is the initial inspection, so hopefully it will not be something too drastic. 

Thanks for the responses.
Annette

[BeeHopper]

Pink Cow is correct.

Baiting Systems in use now, but a more direct approach is to pump liquid chemical such as Premise into the soils adjacent and up against the foundation and in some cases they pump and spray inside the foundation if they have access thus creating a barrier. If the Pest Control Operator does it correctly, he or she should not contaiminate the plants that the bees may forage on, even though Premise is dangerous to the honeybee.


Relax  :)

[JP]

Liquid applications are done underneath concrete foundations where bees wouldn't be affected. Soil treatments are done via trench and treat, which should also be of no harm to your bees.

Escaped vikane gas would be of no harm to your bees. It works by removing oxygen from within the tented area.

I would ask the company exactly what they will be doing and what product they will be using.

If a baiting system not to worry Annette.


...JP

[annette]

Ok I am printing all this info out to take with me tomorrow for the meeting with the pest control company so I have some things to compare with whatever he tells me.

I really appreciate all the help and information from all of you.

Sincerely
Annette

[riverrat]

I think you will be alright. If in doubt you could always block the bees in the night before and then remove the block after dark following the spraying

[annette]

Update!!  Met with the pest control guy and as it turns out, no termites at all to worry about in this house. What the people saw was earwigs and residue left by the earwigs (looks like a pile of dirt to me)

So a false alarm and I worried so much for nothing. Even had a little spat with the DH over the whole situation. But I did learn lots from this post and if it ever happens again, I will be more prepared.

Thanks for all the help and information

Annette