Protecting Bees from Pesticides (an app and a PDF), by Pacific Northwest Extension

Authors Louisa Hooven, Ramesh R. Sagili Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University Erik Johansen Overview Oregon State University has released a smartphone app designed to help farmers and beekeepers protect bees from pesticides while in the field. Growers might also find this app useful if they search for products by the chemical name (the active [...]

Search Pesticides by Level of Risk for Bees

University of California's Integrated Pest Management Program has put together a searchable database that lists numerous pesticides and their known level of risks for bees. Simply search for pesticides by their common name, add them to the list, and view their ratings of toxicity for bees. Ratings range from I to III, with I being [...]

Best management practices to protect bees from pesticides, by Univ. of California IPM

The University of California Statewide IPM Program has developed a list of best management practices to protect bees from pesticides. Their list also provides various links to additional resources. Excerpts from BMP List Identify what species of bees are present at the site and learn the specific ways to protect them. Alkali bees, bumble bees, [...]

Toxicity of Common Lawn, Garden, and Ornamental Pesticides to Bees

Authors Mark Shour Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Adam Thoms Department of Agriculture, Iowa State University Lina Rodriguez-Salamanca Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic, Iowa State University Overview This Iowa Extension and Outreach team has pulled together information on various common pesticides, covering insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Within each table, they rate  products on their [...]

Building a Better Monarch Butterfly Waystation

The monarch butterfly is well known for its long distance annual migrations to and from overwintering sites in Mexico, a voyage reaching upwards of 2,000 miles. The journey north may take four or five generations, with the final generation making the long trek home. These long distance flights take a tremendous amount of energy and require […]

Creating Pollinator-Friendly Landscapes

Overview Pollinator-friendly landscapes are becoming more popular as more people become aware of the dangers pollinators face in their everyday settings. The research presented in this article comes from a three-year survey documenting bee visitations and assemblages in trees and shrubs in the Ohio River Valley region. It focuses on woody ornamental plants because of […]

The Insecticide and Miticide Mode of Action Field Guide

A resource to assist in managing arthropod pests of turfgrass and ornamental plants. Most insecticides affect one of the five essential biological processes or systems in arthropods: 1) the nervous system; 2) metabolic energy production; 3) growth; 4) physiological or structural function (including feeding and water balance); and 5) targeting midgut membrane integrity. Pesticide resistance […]

Best Management Practices for Farmers Using Seeds Treated With Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Overview Neonicotinoids are a group of insecticides that commonly use in seed treatments for many crops includes soybean, cotton, canola, wheat, sunflower, potato, and many vegetables. Neonicotinoids can travel from the seed into the plant which control plant feeding insects both seeds and plants. Residues in nectar, pollen, and plant guttation could affect honey bees and native […]

Bees on Alternative Flowering Plants on Vegetable Farms in Connecticut

Dr. Kimberly Stoners article measured bee attractiveness of alternative flowering plants on vegetable farms. Stoners research has shown that vegetable crops are visited more frequently by wild bees than by honey bees.  The results uncovered that 98 different bee species visited 10 farms over two different growing seasons. Many of the bees collected were found on non-vegetable plants such as cover crops and wildflowers that benefit from bee pollination.

A Citizen’s Guide to Creating Pollinator Habitat in Connecticut

Overview This guide is for those who want to create a pollinator habitat in Connecticut. Dr. Stoner divided the users to four different groups: Beekeeper : supporting the health and productivity of your honey bees. Farmer or orchardist : supporting pollinators of crops to increase productivity. Manager of a large land area (conservation) : to […]