Beekeepers have a lot to think about when it comes to the safety of their hives. Everything from climate change to proper nutrition is on the list for consistent checks and monitoring. Not all outside factors can be controlled within the farm, but that doesn’t mean nothing can be done. 

Pesticides originate in multiple areas. Whether they are used on the farm in pest-prone crops or from municipal sources that want to control disease-spreading insects, there are ways to mitigate the harm pesticides cause to honeybees. These solutions range from very simple to more complex ones. 

Sometimes honeybees perish. While this is a fact of beekeeping, you can protect the majority of the honeybee hive from pesticides by using different techniques. This saves offspring and lengthens the lifespan of the hive as a whole. Using these strategies also helps honey farms maintain their regular market share.

How Pesticides Harm Bees

Bees come into contact with pesticides in numerous ways. One way is direct contact with plants sprayed with pesticides, whether organic or systemic. As bees forage, they touch the pesticide-soaked tissue with their tongue or body and take on the toxin. This is the least damaging mode of contact, as the infected bee dies in the field and doesn’t spread the toxin to the hive. 

If a bee transports an insecticide back to the hive via contaminated nectar or pollen, the entire hive is at risk. This could result in total hive death, and beekeepers may have to start over completely. At the very least, the offspring still growing in the hive will suffer. 

How to Prevent Pesticide Damage to Bees

Even though bees are affected by broad-spectrum insecticides, there are ways to preserve the health of your hives. Whether the pesticides are used on your farm, or via some outside source, here are a few ways to protect your honeybees from pesticides. 

Limit Pesticide Use

The easiest way to prevent pesticide damage to bees is to simply avoid using them on your farm. Plant a diverse array of nectar plants that invite natural predators who feed on pests, rather than spraying non-selective chemicals that do widespread damage. These are a natural, selective form of pest control that pose no threat to honeybees.

Use cultural techniques to keep pests at bay. Trap cropping, rotation, and companion planting are all viable modes of cultural control. Delayed planting is another useful method for limiting pests. Combine these with insectary plantings and you may find you don’t need to use pesticides at all. 

Or Use Them Responsibly

If you can’t get around pesticide use, there are ways to limit damage to beneficial insects and to your hive. Your first line of defense is to use OMRI-certified pesticides. These are generally gentler not only on the ecology of the farm (including bees), but they’re also easier on plants. 

When using neem or insecticidal soaps, spray plants in the early morning or at dusk when honeybees and other pollinators are not active. A light mist is enough to saturate plant tissues. There is no need to overspray, as the substance won’t have time to dry before bees begin foraging. Similarly, avoid spraying during flowering.

Use targeted pesticides when possible. For caterpillar issues, find a Bachillus thuringiensis strain that works on the specific pest you want to control. Always follow the directions on the bottle, as the label is the law. Avoid using pesticides over and over again, opting for a different type when one isn’t effective. This prevents built-up resistances that cause larger agricultural problems. 

Plant Hedgerows to Control Drift

If you grow adjacent to a more industrial farm where spraying non-targeted pesticides is common, it’s essential to prevent drift that damages bee colonies. One way to do this is to plant hedgerows that catch the drift before it enters the bounds of your forage space. 

Using native forbs, grasses, and shrubs provides a screen that is easy to manage, is better for the local environment, and supports a wide array of insects that keep pests in check. This lessens the need for pesticides on your farm. 

Use multiple rows of native plants spaced adequately apart to limit drift. With the right canopy density, this is an effective measure to prevent pesticides from affecting your honeybee hives.

Place Nectar Plants in Safe Areas

Related to hedgerows is how and where you plant your main forage plants for your honeybees. If you’ve dealt with drift problems from adjacent farms, protect your honeybees from pesticides by keeping the plants they love within the bounds of plants that can stop drift. 

Yes, planting within the bounds of a hedgerow is pertinent. But an even better assurance is planting your forage field at least 4 miles from a pesticide-treated field. Where this is not already the case, moving the colony is an option. In this situation, hedges planted around the apiary are an effective control. 

Municipal and Aerial Pesticides

Sometimes area-wide sprays occur with little notice or indication from the agencies and municipalities that enact them. In that regard, beekeepers have to prepare themselves in case of a snap spray from aircraft or trucks. 

Purdue University recommends using Beecheck.org to register beehives. Another failsafe is to link with your local agricultural extension office to let them know where your apiaries are located. If you’re in an urban area, contact your local municipality to determine if there is a planned schedule for mosquito sprays. Figure out which pesticides will be used to give you a better sense of how long the hives will need to be relocated or battened down.   

These give sprayers an indication of the locations of beehives and provide you with information about when to cover your apiary to limit damage. Then you should have a couple of days to prepare. Your next step after networking with local and governmental organizations is to determine if it’s feasible to move the hives away from the areas where spraying will occur.  

If not, it’s time for protective measures. Take a sample of about a cup to a pint of the bees in the hive and store it in the freezer in case other bees die as a result of the spraying. Clearly label the sample with the date and time of collection, and figure out which agricultural office deals with any issues related to die-off in pesticide spraying. 

Give your bees water and an internal feeder to ensure they have it for more than 24 hours of sealing. Put a mesh screen at the hive entrance after bee foraging hours, and cover the entire hive with a loose cloth that allows air to flow to the hive. Then set a reminder to remove the cloth and mesh cover when the appropriate time has elapsed. 

After the spray, collect any dead bees with a sheet of paper and freeze them in a separate container from your initial sample for reporting to your extension office. Clearly label the sample. This gives the office an indication if any violations occurred, and if any corrective actions are necessary.