Mosquito Spraying

[bens]

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.

[Bryn]

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

[annette]

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.

[Michael Bush]

You're worried about the bees? I don't want to breath that stuff!!!!