Honey Bee Safe Insecticide Fungicide Combo RECOMMENDATIONS??

[Johnny Redland]

I have around 25-30 different species of tropical fruit trees in South Miami area and I'm looking for a good all around insecticide and fungicide or a combo spray that will work fairly well across the board, by not harm my honey bees. Can some make some recommendations on brands  and how often to spray??? I've searched the forum to no avail. Thank you. -Jon

[EvilFruit]

You will find your information in here.

How to reduce bee poisoning from pesticides - College of Science

http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/bpp/insect_clinic/pests/pnw591.pdf

[EvilFruit]

By the way, Thank you for bringing this topic up.

As you know. Bees are not the only pollinator around, other types of insects play a major role in the pollination process.

[CTMIAMI]

Also the wind

[Evildeadguy]

I have around 25-30 different species of tropical fruit trees in South Miami area and I'm looking for a good all around insecticide and fungicide or a combo spray that will work fairly well across the board, by not harm my honey bees. Can some make some recommendations on brands  and how often to spray??? I've searched the forum to no avail. Thank you. -Jon

Hi i use Neem Oil it works great and its safe to use around bees too

i use this stuff here : Dyna-Gro Pure Neem Oil. When mixing it you need to mix it with 1/2 teaspoon  Dawn Original Dishwashing Liquid

[Johnny Redland]

By the way, Thank you for bringing this topic up.

As you know. Bees are not the only pollinator around, other types of insects play a major role in the pollination process.

This is very true. But I keep bees so they are a little closer to the heart 

[Johnny Redland]

You will find your information in here.

How to reduce bee poisoning from pesticides - College of Science

http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/bpp/insect_clinic/pests/pnw591.pdf

Thank you. This is perfect. I will print it out at my office in the morning and give it a good read

[Johnny Redland]

Do you dilute the neem oil? A standard 8oz container would not go far on my property. Thanks

[Evildeadguy]

well they sale neem oil in bigger sizes.... i think upto 10 gallons... and you have to dilute it its
1 oz per gal of water.... so how ever many gallons you plan to mix you would have to figure that out
i don't use much of it so i never needed to mix but only 1 oz per gal sprayer

[Finca La Isla]

Do you know for a fact that neem oil does not harm bees?  I find it much stronger and longer lasting than lower strength piratroides. 
Peter

[Tropicdude]

Do you know for a fact that neem oil does not harm bees?  I find it much stronger and longer lasting than lower strength piratroides. 
Peter

Neem does not work on the nervous system as other insecticides do,  it works more as a repellent,  most bugs would rather starve than eat leaves with neem on them.
in other words, its does not kill bugs on contact,  the "oil" part I guess would work like any other organic oil, in that it will suffocate small bugs etc.  my problem with Neem oil, is, its seems to lose effectiveness over time ( product goes bad ).  not sure if commercially made products have some kind of preservative in them in the US.  Neem oil over here is just pressed and bottled.

On this subject, I have been trying to get my hands on a matrine  based product,  to test for effectiveness.  which is an extract from Sophora alopecuroids,  this has been getting a lot of attention lately for medicinal purposes in humans.  unlike Neem,  this stuff kills insects much like commercial pesticides do gets into their nervous systems and kills them dead. .  but is considered "safe"  biological alternative and not harmful to beneficial insects. .   oxymatrine is used shows promise for Cancer, Asthma, and Hepatitis.  matrine is what is used for agriculture. 

Anyone have experience with this compound ? . I will eventually buy this, just need to take the drive to the agri-center that has it.  hehe.

[ChristineMessner]

You will find your information in here.

How to reduce bee poisoning from pesticides - College of Science

http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/bpp/insect_clinic/pests/pnw591.pdf

cool, thank you so much

[Mark in Texas]

By the way, Thank you for bringing this topic up.

As you know. Bees are not the only pollinator around, other types of insects play a major role in the pollination process.

I have hundreds of different species of bees, moths, butterflies and flies doing their biz in my greenhouse during the spring.  I also judiciously use fungicides and pesticides in the vineyard & field - imidacloprid, dithane, 3336WP, Captan, Pristine, permethrin and others with no harm to anything.  Just because your poison is organic or <cough> "natural" doesn't mean it's not going to be harmful to bees.  Know your product, follow the label, talk to your local entomologist.  Permethrin is low toxic but very effective.  I mix my fungicides with insecticides most times.

My neighbor across the road has 5 hives.  They enjoy my citrus, mango, and avocado flowers. 

Bees and a big fly on avocado: