Any London honey coming in?

[Hivemaker.]

I hope for childrens sake DDT isn't around today.

I think it is still around,manufactured in India.

 

[beehive1234]

I think it is still around,manufactured in India.

God Forbid

 

[MuswellMetro]

DDT?

I hope for childrens sake DDT isn't around today.

No, we are talking about pesticides used by councils.

Do we know what the councils,(that we inhabit,) use?

How many of us enquire?

How many of us have the time?

We love the Honey Bee, we want to save her.

The london council's we contacted then their main chemcial used to kill insects was cypermethrin at 0.1% w/v (1g/litre) or similar pyrethrin based compunds . This was used in houses to kill cockroaches by contact surface spray

none had a need or intention to use the neonicotinoid family insecticides

other sprays used were 2-4-5 D type broad leaf weedkillers and variuos formulation of glycophospahate but paraquat was being phased out by most due to it being lethal if drunk

a simple freedom of information request was all that was needed and i had the replies in 14 days for the cost of a piece of paper and a postage stamp

 

[Joseph]

I have had nothing worth taking off so far, and have been feeding where supplies were really low. Perhaps London really does have too many bees as that article in the standard claimed. NOT!!

 

[richardbees]

A glimmer of hope this afternoon - from a quick glance through the glazed coverboard there were a couple of frames with some capped honey!

 

[tonybloke]

As soil drenches of neonics are picked up by tree roots and distributed throughout the plant, you wouldn't see any spraying going on, and yet the trees around you can be poisoned.

The killing of the aphids would have a massive knock-on effect on the local bird populations, too, as they are a major source of food for many insect-eating species.

and your evidence for councils using neo-nicotinoids on trees is?

 

[VEG]

as an arborist I have worked for various councils and we have never ever had to spray any tree so dont know where you have got the idea from

 

[REDWOOD]

I remember years ago a ship in the English Channel capsized or lost it's cargo or something and a few barrels of DDT sunk and a massive search for them hit the news and suddenly went quiet, no one said if they had been found but I bet in a few years time we are in for one big marine biological disaster

 

[BeeJayBee]

They don't spray anything here either, I've no idea why anybody thinks they should. In terms of maintenance, we're lucky of they cut the verges once a month.

I have had nothing worth taking off so far, and have been feeding where supplies were really low. Perhaps London really does have too many bees as that article in the standard claimed. NOT!!

It isn't just in London that colonies are needing food because they've eaten their way through the supers. Check the Fera/Beebase advice for June 2012. https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/public/News/news.cfm#127

 

[Stromnessbees]

Be vigilant at all times

Anyway, we need to be vigilant at all times as the new treatment methods (soil drenches and stem injections) are less obvious than spraying.

If in doubt, ask your local authorities what has been used in your area.

Keep an eye out for bumblebees and observe the local bird populations and don't be shy to alert other beekeepers if you suspect systemic pesticides might have been used, remember that their effects can be delayed by several months, so keep notes to make sure you have points of reference in case something happens to your bees later on.

As these insecticides have an effect on grooming behaviour too, your colonies could succumb to secondary infections like nosema or varroa, and the link to the original pesticide exposure can easily be missed.

Hope the honey situation does improve soon!

 

[VEG]

can you tell me what they are supposed to be treating these trees for?

 

[Stromnessbees]

Many dangerous uses of neonics

can you tell me what they are supposed to be treating these trees for?

There has been some hype about this caterpillar:

The Oak Processionary Moth is a nasty little beast. It's native to Europe, but didn't show up in the United Kingdom until 2006, when a few eggs hitched a ride on oak trees transplanted to London. Since then, it's been causing environmental chaos. Now it's threatening to seriously screw up the Summer Olympics.

http://gizmodo.com/5908367/there-is...ening-to-invade-the-london-olympics-seriously

But even aphids are frequently considered a pest.

Apple trees and other fruit trees can be treated systemically against maggots, people just don't realize that they can kill off their pollinators at the same time.

Even rose bushes are now drenched with neonics to avoid any sap sucking or leaf eating insect from spoiling the displays.

Most garden centers now sell these products, even Pippa Greenwood of Gardener's Question Time recommended their use as mentioned in another thread.

 

[VEG]

yes but you were talking about street trees earlier, and as i said I am an arborist and have never even been asked to spray a tree I have worked for a few councils and I will tell you they dont have the cash to spend to spray trees. The processionary moth doesnt kill the tree it will defoliate it but they will leaf up again the following year.

 

[Baggyone]

Councils are skint, cant pay for pensions and cutting staff, but the insinuation is that they can afford to have their gardeners inject all the trees with systemic insecticides. Unless facing a specific threat then trees are obscenely resiliant plants which dont need any help with a few pests.
I have contorted hazels with the worst case of scale insect infestation you would ever see but it doesn't miss a beat. Why spend the money where its not needed.

baggy

 

[Tom Bick]

Inspected 4 hives today and the hives full of nectar dripping out of the frames when inspecting and a very noticeable weight increase in the supers and they will all need supers added over the next two days.

The blackberrys were and have been covered in bees lately and I noticed the Limes starting to flower now. Not great weather tomorrow but a good few days beyond and the first week of Wimbledon often rains.

 

[richardbees]

I noticed on the train from Victoria this pm that 'Dog roses' are now profuse on railway land....my bees like them

 

[djg]

The last few days have seen a real difference in the intensity of the foraging bees leaving the hives - little arrows shooting away with real intent.

Looks like the lime is coming....so along with a few more humid days this week, could be worth a peek in the supers by the weekend.

 

[Joseph]

Yup, frames wet with nectar... Let us hope for some decent weather into the next few weeks.

 

[Stromnessbees]

Systemic pesticides to save the Olympics?

Councils are skint, cant pay for pensions and cutting staff, but the insinuation is that they can afford to have their gardeners inject all the trees with systemic insecticides. Unless facing a specific threat then trees are obscenely resiliant plants which dont need any help with a few pests.

We are not talking council money here, we are talking Olympic money!

The Processionary Oak Moth was threatening the success of the Olympics as their toxic hairs could affect the visitors.

I wouldn't put it past the organizers to have the London trees drenched with systemic pesticides to save the games - never mind what happens to the bees and the wildlife.

 

[VEG]

They dont spray them they use an industrial type of hoover to remove them.