Not all pesticides are equally hazardous to bees. Prevention of bee losses is a joint responsibility of the spray operator,grower,and beekeeper. It is fostered by mutual understanding and cooperation which includes the exchange of information before pesticides damaging bees are used.
Pesticides work in two ways reduce bee population.
Secondly,the use of herbicides reduces the forage of the bees to collect pollen and nectar. Pesticides damage to colonies take many forms. Bees may be poisoned when they feed on nectar or pollen contaminated with certain pesticides. They may also be poisoned when they fly through a cloud of pesticide dust or spray,or walk on the treated parts of a plant. They may be overcome by the fuming action of certain pesticides,either in the field or in the hive if the material has drifted there.