preparing for mosquito spray

Different mosquito districts use different methods. We just appeared before the Alachua County Commissioners as they develop a program.
[h=1]Mosquito Control and Beekeepers[SUP]1[/SUP][/h]Jamie Ellis and Jerry Hayes[SUP]2[/SUP]

[h=2]Introduction[/h]In this document, we address the concern among beekeepers in Florida over mosquito control programs and how they may impact honey bee colonies. Florida climate ranges from tropical in the south to subtropical/temperate in the central and north. Furthermore, Florida has a number of lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, and high annual rainfall. The abundance of fresh water in Florida makes it the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and the diseases they may carry and transmit. Many joke that if it were not for mosquito control and air conditioners, Florida would be uninhabitable. Obviously this is not true, but it does underscore how important mosquito control is to Florida's citizens and its economy.
[h=2]About Mosquito Control[/h]In Florida, mosquito control is conducted as a function of two primary needs: emergency situations following natural disasters and routine local governmental control measures. Emergency mosquito control is the responsibility of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) - Division of Agricultural Environmental Services, a state level agency that conducts large-scale mosquito spraying in response to major storm events or other natural disasters. For example, hurricanes can deliver tremendous amounts of fresh water to many areas in Florida. Heavy rain or flooding can create reservoirs (even as small as a water puddle) that serve as breeding sites for mosquitoes. The state uses GIS data to locate potential breeding areas and mosquito trap counts to determine where populations of mosquitoes are likely to be high. Once they determine what areas need to be treated, they use planes and equipped vehicles to administer pesticides. This is done in an effort to limit large scale mosquito outbreaks and, consequently, disease outbreaks that threaten public safety and agriculture.
Local governmental Mosquito Control Districts (MCDs) are responsible for mosquito control throughout the state. Beekeepers regularly encounter mosquito control efforts initiated by Mosquito Control Districts because these agencies are responsible for “routine” mosquito control in local areas. This may occur on the city or municipality level. Regardless, local Mosquito Control Districts practice regular spraying when mosquito populations are highest.
[h=2]Mosquito Control and the Beekeeper[/h]The best thing a beekeeper can do to minimize the damage resulting from any mosquito control program is be educated. Beekeepers should work with their local Mosquito Control District and determine (1) when they spray, (2) where they spray, and (3) what pesticide(s) they use. This information can help one locate apiaries appropriately, thereby protecting bees. Furthermore, it may be possible to work with the local Mosquito Control District to help them create a “bee friendly” spray program. Keep in mind that Mosquito Control Districts are constrained somewhat by regulations. These regulations may make it necessary to spray areas where apiaries are located. For this reason, it is important to communicate with the local Mosquito Control District.
[h=2]What Can the Beekeeper Do?[/h]The following is a list of things beekeepers can encourage their local Mosquito Control Districts to do to minimize damage to bees:
1) Ask the Mosquito Control District to review the list of pesticides available to them and use those that are the least toxic to bees and have the shortest persistence in the environment. Remember that the Mosquito Control District will want to rotate chemicals to lessen the chance that mosquitoes will become resistant to any one product. Consequently, you may have to work with the team to identify a couple of lower risk pesticides.
2) Encourage the Mosquito Control District to spray after dark, when bees are not flying. Remember, most Mosquito Control Districts must spray at or just after dusk because that is when mosquitoes fly. However, the later in an evening that the Mosquito Control Districts can spray, the better it is for the bees.
3) Work with the spray team to identify areas that need to be sprayed. Local terrain will determine the location of mosquito hotspots. Consequently, spray teams can review their spray area (using GIS and trap information) and maybe limit the amount of pesticide that they spray.
4) Create a list of local beekeepers and include their contact information (home and cell phone numbers). You can give this list to the local Mosquito Control District and ask them to notify all area beekeepers prior to spraying for mosquitoes. This is especially important when Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is conducting emergency mosquito control operations. A helpful reminder that a beekeeper can have colonies located all over the district will be instructive.
At the end of the day, beekeepers need to remember that Mosquito Control Districts work under certain constraints and may not be able to follow all of the recommendations above. The obligation is on the beekeeper to protect his/her bees. Here are some suggestions for protecting bees:
1) First, locate bees in areas that are not sprayed routinely. If bees are located in a subdivision, for example, they very likely will be exposed to a mosquito control effort. To that end, it is best to locate bees in rural areas.
2) Do not cover colonies with plastic or other covers when a spray event will occur. This could cause colonies to overheat and will lead to other problems.
3) Communicate openly with local mosquito control districts about the importance of honey bees. Volunteer to give a presentation on bees to the employees so that they will understand the situation better.
4) Public safety takes precedence over everything else: be grateful and patient.
The advice above targets local Mosquito Control Districts specifically. Remember there is a state level mosquito control effort that occurs during or shortly after disasters. The state maintains a disaster preparedness website (http://www.flaes.org/aes-ent/mosquito/index.html) where an announcement concerning when and where a spray event will occur is posted. It is important that beekeepers visit that website after a disaster (such as a hurricane) so that proper action may be taken. It is also advisable to be in contact with the local County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). All communication regarding emergency mosquito control is channeled through the local EOC. Information related to bee apiaries should be provided to Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services so that they can include this information when they make spray plans. Please know that your personal safety is most important. If a disaster threatens you, protect yourself and your family first. If, however, the danger to you has passed, you can take appropriate action to protect your bees.
[h=3]Footnotes[/h]
1. This document is ENY-149 (IN813), one of a series of the Entomology & Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First published: December 2008. Reviewed May 2011. For more publications related to horticulture/agriculture, please visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/.

2. Jamie Ellis, assistant professor, Department of Entomology & Nematology, University of Florida; and Jerry Hayes, state bee inspector, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Serivces, Gainesville, FL 32611.

I don't know about anywhere else, but Texas runs largely on the "brother-in-law" system. City governments make the decision when and where to spray, fortunately there have been no cases of West Nile Virus in my zip code as of the last time that detailed information was given out. Cities are presently using trucks driving up and down streets to distribute pesticide, on 6 hour shifts from 10 pm to 4 am in many cases. So far Fort Worth isn't spraying. Oh, the brother-in-law is the good ole boy driving the pesticide truck or flying the small plane.

My bees are located on a lot with privacy fencing, and a large tree overhangs the street side of that lot. They are (except for the hot hive) very near the center of my property for maximum space from the street. Their water source are fish ponds from 500 to 1000 gallons on my property, with fish in them. If the city goes to aerial spraying I will need to cover my ponds as well as my bees. I was considering a horizontal tarp, as big as I can get - over the large pond near the bees and the hives. Not 100% coverage, but less likely to suffocate either.

I am monitoring news and city websites daily. I do not have time to tell the city what to do, just to respond to protect my hives.

Gypsi

I have bees at my cousins place and he has a cherry orchard and he sprays every 10 to 14 days from mid may to 1st week in August.
This is a copy of an e-mail sent to a new beekeeper that has her bees in the orchard they own and was concerned about spraying in close proximity to the hives.
What work for me and the bees is:
If you block the bees in and it gets to warm they can cook themselves to death. If you put screened entrance and tops the drifting spray could get to them what my cousin dose for me is puts a sheet over the hives and places a sprinkler over them the bees think it's cloudy and raining and stay in the hive any drifting spray is washed out of the air and diluted, the water keeps the bees cool so they don't over heat. with the half life of the sprays being so short the sprays are only toxit to the bees while they are in a liquid mist like state. Keep in mind to keep the flowers under the trees in control you don't want to have the bees bringing back contaminated nectar and pollen. once the spray mist is dry on the leafs of the trees and on the grass remove the sheet and sprinkler and let the bees forage. My cousin will cover the hives at 6:00 start spraying at 6:30 be finished at 8:00 Let the bees fly at about 10:00, if there where any flowering plants in the orchard like clover and dandelions he would mow them the day before. If you supply a close clean uncontaminated water supply close to the bees you will less-in the chance of the bees bringing back contaminated water. If they know where their is steady clean water close by the will go there for their water, lessening the chance that they are sucking up spray mist or water from small leaks on a sprayer. The only other caution is some of the organic sprays can be deadly to bees especially the one used on cherries, it goes on and is sticky sweet to encourage the insects to eat it. it doesn't break down quickly stays attractive to insects for a long time and attacks the bugs nerves system. But because it is a natural product it is considered organic and is approved for use by organic growers for use against the cherry fruit fly.
hope this proves useful Keith