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Disease threatens
Utah bee colonies |
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Daily Herald
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Spring isn't over, and many Utah beekeepers are already feeling the sting of Colony Collapse Disorder. Most scientific studies on CCD fail to describe this disorder beyond describing its outward appearance: foraging bees are failing to return to their hive. The hive population rapidly dwindles and then eventually dies.
While searching the internet for answers to the CCD, I found lists of potential causes that were always inclusive of pesticide exposure, disease and mites. Is this disorder really that much of a mystery? Did you know genome mapping revealed that honeybees may be peculiarly vulnerable to diseases and toxins as compared to other flying insects? Further, did you know that some microencapsulated pesticides match the physical characteristics of pollen and can be ported by bees back to their nest? Another disturbing fact is that one of the most common pesticides on the market today that is highly toxic to the honeybee gives no warning stating such.
So here's some recommendations for pest-control technicians (former occupation), agricultural growers and the do-it-yourselfers. Know the pesticides you are using and their toxicity to bees (do not depend on third party to provide this information). Read the label and follow the label directions. Never! Never! Never use a neonicotinoids pesticide on blooming plants if honey bees are present! Select a pesticide that has a lower toxicity to honey bees and apply when honey bees are not foraging, late in the evening.
• Daniel Van Horn,
Saratoga Springs |
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