Beekeepers Worried About Aerial Pesticide Spraying

[Purveyor]

Local beekeepers are circulating an online petition to stop aerial spraying for mosquitoes.

There are 502 human cases of West Nile virus in North Texas as of Tuesday. Fourteen people have died, including 10 people in Dallas County.

Dallas County has authorized aerial spraying to help fight West Nile virus. Garland, Mesquite, University Park and Highland Park have approved the spraying, while other cities in the county are still deciding whether to conduct it.

"They're very deadly to bees, and it's not just honeybees -- there's other invertebrates that are going to be compromised by this," said Brandon Pollard, a Dallas beekeeper.

MORE...

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/Beekeepers-Worried-About-Aerial-Pesticide-Spraying-166212746.html

[justabob]

1. lots of people unhappy about the decision

I understand why the County is doing it, but I do wonder how effective it is going to be. It seems a big show so they can say they have "done something" whether it is effective or not.

[uponit7771]

2. Least of bads I think, 9 people have died from West Nile in DFW ALONE!! that's a huge death rate...

...relative to the rest of the planet....Earth

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. it's a neurotoxin that will kill all night flying insects

I'm not really sure it's the least bad option.

[malokvale77]

4. 9 people...

That's nothing compared to the death toll when the pollinators are all gone. We already have a declining bee population, that is a major concern to food production.

[HopeHoops]

5. So am I. The toxin kills mosquitoes, but it also kills bees, dragon flies, and other insects.

They've sprayed pretty much all of the water ways around here. Fortunately, I'm not in the spray zone, have a yard full of clover right now, and more bumbles and honey bees than the entire rest of the neighborhood combined (I don't poison my lawn).