Franklin County Public Health understands the importance of all pollinators in our ecosystem and in particular, the honey bee. Our food supply and economy relies on a healthy pollinator population. That is why FCPH’s mosquito management program carefully conducts its mosquito efforts to protect pollinators.
When FCPH determines that mosquito adulticiding is necessary, spraying takes place beginning at around sunset and continues for several hours. Typically, bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators are less active at this time, back in their hives, nests or resting places and would not be affected by our application. We also realize that during very hot periods of the summer, bees may stay just outside the hive in the evening and overnight and this behavior would be more susceptible to mosquito adulticiding efforts. To avoid the effects of the mosquito adulticide we suggest following recommendations from Ohio State Bee Keepers Association to protect your hive. If you choose to ensure that the property where your hives are kept is not treated during mosquito spraying we ask that you complete and submit our Do Not Spray Request as a precautionary measure.
Mosquitoes need water to breed and pollinators need water to drink but how do you eliminate mosquito larva without contaminating the same water source that bees may need? FCPH uses many larvicides that contain the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) or Bacillus sphaericus (Bs) and Spinosad which are lethal to mosquitoes but cause no harm to honey bees and pollinators when applied as larvicides, and does not contaminate their water sources.
Resources
University of Florida Honey Bee Research & Extension Lab