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Bee careful when using pesticides in the gardenThe stink bugs are active and I've even seen some pesky aphids. Ahh, the joys of gardening. Most of the gardeners that I know, myself included; have a bag of insecticidal dust handy for these situations. But there are some precautions that need to be taken before dusting garden pests away. Those dusts may take care of one issue, but could also be creating a much more serious problem. Honey bees and other insect pollinators play an important role in the productions of many crops and home vegetable gardens. Protecting pollinators, especially honey bees, from pesticide poisoning should be part of any pesticide program. The following recommendations can help minimize bee kills. Pesticides on blossoms--The blossom is the only part of a plant that the bee visits. By avoiding a pesticide application when a plant is in bloom will help to decrease the chance of harming pollinators. Drift of pesticides--Drift occurs from nearly all spray or dust applications of pesticides from a short distance to miles away. Pesticide dusts will drift farther than a spray will. By lowering the pressure on a sprayer, the water droplets will be larger and will have fewer tendencies to drift to an unwanted location. Drift can also be reduced by applying pesticides in the evening or early morning when the air is calm. Time of application--Pesticides should only be applied when there is no wind and when there are the least amount of bees in the area. The time and intensity of bee visitation to a given crop depends on the abundance and the type of blooms present. For example apple trees or clover may be attractive to bees all day, while cucumbers and corn are usually attractive in the morning or early afternoon. For a general guideline the safest time to apply a pesticide is in the early evening hours. Toxicity of pesticides--Some pesticides are more harmful to bees than others. By using the least toxic formulation available for the desired results, damage to pollinators can be minimized. For further information on toxicity levels, contact the Extension Office at 405-713-1125. Insecticides aren't the only pesticide that will harm bees. Herbicides, like 2,4-D are severely toxic to them; so use caution when applying any kind of pesticide. By keeping these tips fresh, and sharing them with your friends a big impact can be made on the health of the ecosystem; not only on a large scale, but also in your very own garden. Good luck! 7/7/08 Date: 6/30/08 Advertisement
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