Here is the scoop on Sevin-

First pesticides really pose little threat to honeybees UNLESS they are
foraging the plants for nectar. pollen or dew in dry periods

The most dangerous formulations to bees are dusts, wettable powders,
flowable liquids and finally emusifable liquids in that order

Dust formulations are purposely milled to a coarse size ~ 50 microns  to
reduce drift and to enhance foliar deposition  and 50 microns is the
approximate size of many pollen grains and are readily picked up on the bees
pollen baskets,
Wettable powders are somewhat finer ~ 10-20 microns and transport is
somewhat reduced, especially if using Newfilm 17 sticker
The flowable liquids are ~ 2-5 microns and many have sophisticated stickers
such as Sevin XLR Plus which bind  Sevin to the foliage making it much less
available to the bees and will extend rainfastness through  one inch of
rain.
Emulsifiable concentrates are soluabilized in a solvent to the molecular
level causing them to bind tightly to the foliage making pollen basket
transport almost impossible.

Bottom line
    Do not spray when bees are working the crop OR weeds
    Do not use dust formulations when bees are working the crop
    If you use Sevin, use the XLR Plus formulation
    Sevin is NOT the only insecticide that will track back to the colony
causing brood kill from contaminated pollen

IF YOU MUST APPLY A PESTICIDE ON A BLOOMING CROP SPRAY BEFORE 8 IN THE AM OR
LATE IN THE DAY AFTER THE BEES ARE BACK IN THE HIVE.
USE A QUICK KNOCKDOWN PESTICIDE SUCH A PYRETHROID, MALATHION, LANNATE as
they will kill field bees BUT they will not contaminate the hive where the
most damage will occur.

Dan Veilleux
Boone area
In the Mountains of NC

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-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and  other info ---
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