Chemicals in our hives-report from bee lab

[KONASDAD]

As part of NJBA, we receive a newsletter. Included is a report from NJ Apiarist. He attended Beltsville Marylands training for state apiarists. I re-type the first paragraph as I think it has vital info about our bees and chemicals found within-



"This month I attended the 33rd Apiary Inspectors Workshop at USDA Beltsville Bee Lab. There are over 50 in attendance from as far away as Hawaii. Many issues were discussed including CD research, Viruses, Nosema etc. One of the most disturbing presentations reported that of 93 samples of bee bread and pollen, screened for 171 pesticides, collected form both CCD and non-ccd colinies, they found the following; 43 pesticides and five pestacide metabolites, 13 fungicides, 6 herbicides, and 14 systemic pesticides. In one pollen sample they found 17 diffferent pesticides, and only 3 samples detected nothing. Thses results were brought forth the following questions. How do these agents interact w/in the colony? What kind of effect do they have on the development and longevity of the honey bee? How do sub-lethal doses affect the colony? There is much more to do on this issue."

WOW- scary. I find the issue of matabolites being found to be disturbing. Metabolites means the bees ate and digetsed these chems to produce metabolites, which must mean they are feeding chems to larvae. Just one of many thoughts i had. I am sure there are even more thoughts fro the gang.

[sarafina]

You stated they collected samples from both CCD and non-CCD colonies.  Was there a difference in the levels of pesticides between the two?

That data is disturbing.

[dlmarti]

Until we know the amount of the pesticides, its not really surprising, nor is it alarming.

[indypartridge]

I wonder if they tested produce from my local grocery store if the results would be much different. I kinda doubt it.

[KONASDAD]

You stated they collected samples from both CCD and non-CCD colonies.  Was there a difference in the levels of pesticides between the two?

That data is disturbing.

I'll try to find out. good question.

Until we know the amount of the pesticides, its not really surprising, nor is it alarming.

I get the impression its a positive or negative test, not a quantitative analysis. I would imagine the test is pretty sensitive as well, but i will again try to find out what the test parameters were. Regardless, if there are any chems present, one can assume they will increase w/ time presuming continued exposure.

[doak]

If I understand the report correctly, "WE" are killing our bees.
Last year the five colonies out of seven colonies I lost that showed signs of CCD were the ones I treated.
The surviving 5 colonies were not treated.
Plus I live in a none farming area.
So go figure. :roll:doak

[BeeHopper]

I like to know how these chemicals are ending up on the flowers ( pollen ) 
1. Precip washing the residual off the leaves onto the flowers ?
2. Spraying while crop are in bloom ?
3. Blatant misuse or ignorance ?
4. Spraying without notification ?

I'm no genius on farming practices, but are these legitimite questions ?

[Keith13]

you wonder how the pesticides end up on flowers?

I have a Brother in law who at the first sign of any bug no matter the species pulls out the sprayer loads the poison and sprays the entire yard. until you stop this mentality poisons will be in every aspect of our lives

[Kirk-o]

Wow some people put chemicals right in there hives also
kirko

[HAB]

Kieth13 wrote:
'You wonder how the pesticides end up on flowers?
I have a Brother in law who at the first sign of any bug no matter the species pulls out the sprayer loads the poison and sprays the entire yard. until you stop this mentality poisons will be in every aspect of our lives."

My Son In Law is like that.  He once found a wasp nest in his yard.  Went to the local garden center and bought the non-diluted garden spray 2 gal jug.  Enough to spray 50 large yards and proceeded to spray his 50 x 100 ft  (with house in middle) yard!!!
I asked why, he said he wanted to be @#@# sure he killed'em.

[buzzbee]

Don't forget many states spray forestlands for certain pests. Bees gather pollen from sources other than the "Flower". Grass gives pollen also.

[DayValleyDahlias]

Newsflash:

I am an organic grower...guess what happened when I switched to organic?  MORE BENEFICIAL BUGS and BACTERIA!  I hardly have to do a thing now...I mean I use prevention, such as cleanliness and monitoring the land for naughty bugs..but there are SO many Lady Bugs and predatory mites now...awesome, and bunches of birds who eat the naughty bugs n such...so nice!  Oh and TONS of BEES!!!

[Apis629]

It honestly wouldn't surprise me too much if the same results came from my own hives.  I mean, I'm in a city, and people tend to be pretty protective of their green lawns.  Pesticides, herbicides and fungicides are just a part of life now, honestly.  As long as the dosages are so low that the bees can take it without any noticible damage, I'm not quite that concerned about it myself.  Besides, I'd think there's a bit of a biological filter where if it's really that toxic, wouldn't the bee carrying the contaminated nectar/pollen die before returning to the hive?

[Michael Bush]

One of those pesticides was DDT which we outlawed in 1972, 36 years ago.  And we are STILL finding it in pollen in beehives today.

[Joseph Clemens]

Here were we live, in rural Tucson, I am not within nine miles of any agriculture, and gardens or landscaped yards are quite rare. But even here I wouldn't be surprised if traces of pesticides were found in the pollen collected by my untreated hives.

[KONASDAD]

Besides, I'd think there's a bit of a biological filter where if it's really that toxic, wouldn't the bee carrying the contaminated nectar/pollen die before returning to the hive?

No. They gather sub-lethal doses and bring back to hive. It then is condensed through the bees as they prepare their food. Each generation that follows receives more poison and eventually it can reach lethal doses.

I also wonder of more poisons are being ingested from water sources given recent reports about precription drugs in our drinking water and finding chemicals in places like glacier park above the alpine line in lakes.

[reinbeau]

Until we know the amount of the pesticides, its not really surprising, nor is it alarming.

I find it extremely alarming - and I also find it alarming that anyone thinks otherwise.  The widespread use of pesticides in this country is killing off our bees, the bats, and who knows what else, and people think it's just fine, nothing to see here, just move along..... :roll:  I have a serious problem with the use of systemic pesticides.  Have you ever read about chemical body load?  Here's a nice graph showing the increase over the past few decades - the data is over 20 years old now but shows a definite skyrocketing trend.  We're not only killing the pollinators, we're killing ourselves, and doing so pretty much with our eyes wide open - and some are doing it with their wallets getting fatter, that's all that matters, right?

[Apis629]

it really just seems to be part if the cost of society. Pick your poison, be it Rome's lead piping or our own pesticides. Honestly though, I'd be more concerned about some natural poisons, such as nicotine dusts, than some manufactured chemicals. Yes, their presence can go through periods of buildup and breakdown, by surely resistance is present as well. Farming techniques which use pesticides are really what have made food relatively cheap, and just like anything else, it has its costs. 

[reinbeau]

But Nathan, that cost is too high!  I know there are farmers here who make their living farming, I'm not condemning them, they need to do what they need to do to feed their families, and many of them trust these chemical manufacturers - at what cost?  Comparing this to the downfall of the Romans - how can you take such a comparison lightly?  They didn't know about the lead poisoning.  We do.  But we can blithely continue it because - it's just the way it is?  I can't accept that.

[MrILoveTheAnts]

I don't think it's all to be blamed on people who use pesticides. Something kind of disgusting we used to do (like 10 years ago) was keep a recycling bin outside our front door. We'd throw away soda cans and pet foods and the bees would swarm it. We don't do this anymore!!! But I still see some people who keep their recycling bin outside always, and you have to wonder what is getting mixed into the trash the bees are eating.