Dead bees (from a spray?)

[Seymore]

The beard
Same hive, 3 days earlier

[balhanapi]

Oh man... That's heartbreaking. Hope u find out what happened and avoid it in future.

[Scottsman]

That has to make you sick, What was the proximity to the poison ?

[Seymore]

They were spraying on the road. The bees were setting back, less than 1/4 mile, more than 1/8 mile. 3/16. I think my other 2 hives were protected from denser trees. I just hope I don't go home and see more of the same on my other two hives!

[FindlayBee]

Have the bees tested. Find out who did the spraying. Chances are the people who sprayed are liable for the damage to your honey bees. If you are required to register your hives and you are, you most likely have a way to recover your losses by going after the applicator of the spray.

The hives might be contaminated with chemicals not approved for use on or in food.

[Seymore]

I had said to myself well, at least I can use the comb. Then someone in another thread mentioned the contamination, which I hadn't thought of. Really, really, really a waste. How do you attribute a cost to THAT? Ugh.

[jrbbees]

In your claim the entire hive is a write off. bees and hardware.

[Seymore]

Wonder who I would contact? The state apiculturist?

[FindlayBee]

Contact your state apiarist and they should be able to help.

[Seymore]

Thanks Nick. Will do.

[Kazzandra]

They were spraying on the road. The bees were setting back, less than 1/4 mile, more than 1/8 mile. 3/16. I think my other 2 hives were protected from denser trees. I just hope I don't go home and see more of the same on my other two hives!

Did you determine, then, that this was the electric company? Who is the "they?"

[Seymore]

Yes, electric company. "an herbicide." He doesn't know what was in "the concoction, probably a mix of several things." I told him I wanted to know exactly what ingredients were sprayed. I asked why we weren't notified of a spray - he said "sorry." That made all the difference in the world! (yeah, right)

[G3farms]

"the concoction, probably a mix of several things."

ooohhh that sure does sound a little off label to me, needs his applicators license pulled.

[Tom G. Laury]

Herbicides are not toxic to bees. Unless the poison was micro encapsulated your equipment will be fine, if the colony is totally dead or dies later be sure to preserve all the comb, it is actually more valuable than the bees. Or should I say more expensive to replace. Looks like insecticide kill to me.

[Seymore]

Bees are soaking in alcohol waiting for trip to MD for testing. Are they (electric co or contractors) obligated to tell me what they sprayed? It's just too much of a coincidence that a spray happens and then my bees are dead - the entire hive - that night. (It actually could have been the next night; details are already fuzzy). Is that too soon for a kill like that to occur?

Tom, how does one know if poison is micro encapped? I am sick about the bees AND the comb. It IS such a waste of time, money, and lots of little bee hours spent slaving. I get angry all over again!

Also, one other piece that doesn't quite fit. My 2 other hives seem fine - now 3 days later. They are much more shielded by a tree barrier and the dead hive up on a small ridge of sorts. Could the 2 hives be within 100 feet of a hive that was killed by drift and not be bothered at all. I just figured it was the protection from the trees and wind direction.

[Tom G. Laury]

The microencapsulation is not that common, used in ag mostly. Brand names are PenncapM, Lockon, others?

The comb will be reusable if you preserve it. Really to me it sounds like the damaged colony was highly visible and suffered some "personal attention".

[Jim 134]

Bees are soaking in alcohol waiting for trip to MD for testing. Are they (electric co or contractors) obligated to tell me what they sprayed? It's just too much of a coincidence that a spray happens and then my bees are dead - the entire hive - that night.

Are you sending comd all so


BEE HAPPY Jim 134

[odfrank]

Here I had good luck with my local county agricultural commissioner who also regulates pest control. I doubt it was the spraying that selectively killed one hive. Suffocation maybe?

[Seymore]

Are you sending comd all so


BEE HAPPY Jim 134

Jim, I wondered about that! Wouldn't hurt - I'll do that too. May answer for sure if I can reuse equipment.

Od - I'll check that out. Good idea.

[wdcrkapry205]

Is that a screened bottom board you are using? Where you using a pollen trap?