ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 1, 1996 TAG: 9608010009
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Hoein' and Growin'
SOURCE: DIANE RELF
Never apply insecticide directly on the blossoms or on sweet corn tassels, but apply it where bees will be less likely to land during the pollination process. For example, when applying an insecticide to control corn earworms, only the silks need to be sprayed. Whenever possible, try to use a bacterial or alternative insect control method. Fungicides and herbicides can be toxic to bees if the bees are present when these chemicals are applied.
Bees are industrious in finding water on their own, drinking from mud puddles, bird baths, saucers under flower pots and any place dew collects, such as in the depressions in black plastic under mulch. They may even check the end of water hoses looking for a drop, so keep pesticides out of water supplies. Always keep the cleaning water from sprayers out of ponds, ditches or any other place where bees might collect water. Also, do not apply pesticides when it is windy - the chemical can drift, killing bees and other beneficial insects.
Bees work on flowering plants, so vegetables and nonflowering vegetation can be treated whenever bees are not active. Try watering your garden 15 minutes or so before applying pesticides to discourage bee activity while chemicals are being applied.
LENGTH: Short : 32 linesby CNB