[log in to unmask] (Gordon L. Scott) says:
 
>Incidently, A problem we've had here recently is the  local  water
supplier  treating  the  _drinking_water_supply_ with pesticide in
the spring & autumn (fall) -- just when we're feeding syrup.   Now
they  know  it's a problem, at least they tell us they're going to
do it.
 
   What kind of pesticide?  I should think there would be howls of protests
from consumers.  There are lots of anti-pesticide consumer groups here that
really focus on any trace of pesticides coming into human diets.  Or is it
fluoridation you are having problems with?  Please discuss this more fully.
 
>> Monitor hives are a good tool, and I have made offers for years to provide
free monitor hives for applicators.
 
>How do you use these please?
 
   Cotton pollen is readily distinguishable; in fact there is very little
pollen at that time, except cotton.  It is pale yellow, almost white. If
there is any doubt, one can watch bees on cotton, and look at the pollen baske
ts to learn what it looks like.  Then, one has only to watch a monitor hive
within reach of a cotton field, to easily see when they are working cotton.
 
   This approach should work with any crop.
 
   The time of foraging varies, of course, which is why no definite times can
be named, so as to say: do not spray between such and such hours.  That
depends on temperature, moisture, cloud cover, condition of cotton plants,
and whether it is early or late in the bloom period.  The worst losses occur
early, later bloom is weaker and less attractive to bees.
 
   A monitor hive or two could be placed where they are accessible and can
reach cotton.  Anyone could observe from within a closed vehicle for a couple
minutes and readily tell if they were working cotton, by the pollen sighted
at the entrance
 
  Our experience suggests two patterns; one for hot, dry conditions, where
bees are foraging before sunup, and cease foraging and concentrate on
carrying water after about 10-11am.  In cooler weather, say mid-80's, they
start later and may forage until 1pm or so.
 
   There is a lot of talk about bees working extra-nectiary glands, rather
than working the flower.  I have seen this at times, but not a lot.  The
flower seems to be the primary focus of interest. This may be because of
shortage of other pollen sources in this area at the time of cotton bloom.
 
   They also say that cotton makes nice honey.  I don't see how, when the
field force keeps getting stripped.  And that proves true in practice.  After
two or three hits in July, the hives are feather light near the end of
August.  They have lost their capability to feed themselves and will
literally starve.  I've seen them make honey a few times, but only a few.
 It's all in the timing of the spraying.
 
(Re mosquito sprayer demands that I list locations and come *protect* the
bees whenever he sprays.)
 
>Could he possibly be trying  to  protect  both  you  and  he  from
mistakes?   I  guess  that  mosquito spraying is mostly in water &
boggy areas where it will probably be impossible to totally  avoid
bee forage. Of course I may be being naive here!
 
   I've informed him that, if he follows the label, the bees are adequately
protected.  In some areas that is done by night spraying, which, when done
with non-residual materials, complies with the label, and will not hurt the
bees.
 
   Daytime requires a monitor hive to really know, unless he wants to get out
and see what forage there is.  He just doesn't want to think about bees when
he sprays.  He has an urban/suburban population after him, if they get
mosquito bitten.
 
   Inland mosquito control is almost entirely by ground rigs along roads and
streets.  After I jacked them up, they have gone to evening spraying, and we
have no problems.  I told one county director, that if I saw his crew
spraying roadside goldenrod when bees are foraging, that I would seek
criminal prosecution for wilful misuse.
 
   (Incidently, especially for those outside the US, FIFRA is the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide act, which has been in effect more
than 20 years.  It requires applicators to follow a set of directions, which
are specifically designed for each label, though the bee protection
directions are commonly ignored, and it is hard to get enforcement.  I would
expect other countries to have similar laws and similar problems getting
enforcement.
 
    Prior to FIFRA, the bees were considered *trespassers* and the keepers
were expected to move or otherwise protect their bees.  FIFRA recognized bees
as an environmental resource, and by label directions, began protecting the
foraging bee.  That also protects those which do not have a human defender.
 
   We still have a lot of pesticide people around who seem to think FIFRA
does not apply, and they have these pre-FIFRA schemes to circumvent label
compliance.)
 
   On the one hand I feel for the guy applying the pesticides (I've done a
lot myself), who doesn't like others looking over his back. On the other
hand, some applicators have made a pile of money with quick and dirty
applications, and have brought on themselves increasingly close attention.
 
>And I'd like to get them on *our* side if possible.  They need  us
and they're *starting* to realise how much.
 
    Amen!
 
    One of the problems with cotton, is that so many think they don't need
us.
 
[log in to unmask]         Dave Green