Robert
I know nothing of African clawed toads but I have been beekeeping on PEI 11
years. PEI is really a large potato patch so if bees work potatoes I would
certainly have seen it. And I have not. Nor has any beekeeper on PEI.  This
is a good thing since so many very nasty insecticides, fungicides, and
herbicides are sprayed on potato fields. Imidacloprid, to my knowledge, is
the only in-furrow pesticide used here and it does not pose any obvious
problems until the clover rotation comes around in year 3. Then bees begin
to die...especially during the winter following the clover.   Hope this
helps.
Regards,  Big Al
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Mann" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <BEE-L>
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2001 6:18 PM
Subject: bees do not visit potato blossoms ?


> > bees do not visit potato blossoms
>         said a recent post.
> I would be grateful to learn of any exceptions known to this pattern.  The
> reason is that some potatoes are being trialled in my country GEd to
> contain a systemic poison (a toxin from the African clawed toad) and we
> have controversy about 'safety zones'.
>
> R
>
> -
> Robt Mann
> consultant ecologist
> P O Box 28878   Remuera, Auckland 1005, New Zealand
>                 (9) 524 2949