I Need to Spray for Insect Pests, But I Am Concerned About All the Bees

Honey bee and lady beetle on winter canola.

First and foremost, when it comes to protecting pollinators, one must read and follow all pesticide label instructions. Some products are highly toxic to bees and will clearly state on the label “this product is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues on blooming crops or weeds.” So, as a rule, it is recommended not to spray insecticides just before or during bloom. However, if you find it necessary to spray for pests such as in a blooming canola field, try to spray later in the evening hours or at night when bees are less active, or during early morning hours before the bees start to actively forage. Pesticides that have had time to completely dry on the plant may be less toxic to foraging bees. Also consider making a perimeter application rather than the entire field if the heaviest pest pressure occurs on field borders.

If beekeepers have brought in hives (Fig. 1), it may be advisable to remove bee shelters during and for 2-3 days following application and making sure to avoid any direct application to such structures. For more information on this topic, check out WSU Extension Fact Sheet Pollination and Protecting Bees and Other Pollinators (FS174E).Honeybees near winter canola. Figure 1. Honeybee hives dropped off near winter canola. Photo credit to Dale Whaley.

Additional Information About Bee Mortality


For questions or comments, contact Dale Whaley via email at dwhaley@wsu.edu or via phone at (509) 745-8531 ext 6352.