Hi Everyone,
Sounds like you and other beekeepers on the east coast of the US need to be aware of the problems with the Nile virus and mosquito control efforts to reduce the impact.  As for the treatments being used, the Bt. products are for larval control and will not impact honey bees but the Malathion can cause problems if it is not applied properly and carefully as has been noted in the past by Dave Greene.  It would not hurt for beekeepers to let county extension offices know that they have honey bee colonies in the area and enlist their help in letting applicators know that any pesticides need to be applied carefully and properly to avoid killing honey bees and other beneficial insects.
They do a fair amount of mosquito control here but mostly use larval treatments and I have not had any problems nor have any been reported from other beekeepers here in the twin cities area of St Paul and Minneapolis Minnesota.  Every year they do larval treatments to a pond right across the street from my bees with no noticable impact at all.  So they can control the mosquitos without killing the bees.

blane



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Blane White
MN Dept of Agriculture
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