Stingless Bee Basics – Chemicals
Chemicals that are harmful for bees
Something people want to know when first purchasing a hive is what chemicals could possibly hurt their new friends.
Because there are so many chemicals kept in and around the house, it’s hard to know which ones are safe. In this video I will run through how you can figure out what is potentially dangerous for your bees.
Edit “While pyrethroids are not technically systemic insecticides, they are often grouped together in the same class for studies conducted on bees” If not exposed to sunlight they can remain in the environment for sometime.”
Chemicals that can hurt your bees.
Note that in all cases below, having bees in an area that is enclosed is a lot worse than exposure in open air. I.e. allowing any of these chemicals inside your hive as opposed to using them here or there away from your bees.
Solvents:
-Petroleum
-Turpentine
-Methylated spirits and/or pure alcohol
-Kerosene
-Shellite
-Thinners
Insecticide sprays:
-Mortein, Aeroguard, Rid
-Surface sprays
Insecticidal dusts:
-Starrdust
-Coopex
-Movento
-Borax powder
Systemic insecticides:
Anything that remains in the environment (ie used to kill other plant-sucking insects) would be worth not using. Some of these chemicals can be active in a plant’s living tissue for over 2 years.
It is up to you and me to work out old methods for treating our garden beds and alike in the safest way we can. Ensure change in the future generations way of thinking. I am always learning new things from seasoned gardeners.
One of the best gardens I saw with very large veggies was owned by a beekeeper. I asked him “John, what do you spray on these to get them to grow so large and have no bug problems?” He looked at me and smiled “Nothing, when a plant has all the nutrients it needs it becomes very good at resisting pests”
Good post.
People sometimes do things without thinking, me included.
Ive mixed & filled 2 stroke fuel in the same place I always have, right next to my hive position.
I had no idea the fumes could kill bees, until I heard jeff heriot on youtube saying the small amount of fuel in the funnel (fumes) killed his native bees.
I had a bee keeper the other day come by. He was talking about the measures they have to take with an infected Apis hive. I asked how do beekeepers make sure they kill all the bees? He said 30mls of Petrol is tipped into the hive and closed. All the bees die. ? Seems Petrol fumes are powerful.