Bob Harrison wrote:

> Assail (acetamiprid)  was responsible for some commercial 
> bee kills as the label says you can spray while in bloom.(source 
> David Hackenberg). Those growers responsible dropped the 
> practice in order to get bees for pollination but the label still says 
> OK to spray while in bloom.

Bob, the Assail labels in the USA state: 
http://www.upi-usa.com/upi-crop-protection/Assail_insecticide.asp

"This product is toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment.
Do not apply this product while bees are actively visiting the
treated area."

So although Assail may be applied during bloom, it cannot be
applied when bees are actively foraging. 

See also: 
http://www.vegetablegrowersnews.com/pages/news.php?ns=1349

In the bee kill cases you mentioned, how do we know the grower / 
applicator fully followed the label directions and sprayed the correct 
dosage and sprayed only when bees were not actively visiting the 
treated area?

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.

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