We need plants. Plants need bees. Careful with Pesticides! Almonds Apples Avocados Cherries Olives Sunflowers Beans Citrus Pomegranates Why are Bees and Other Pollinators Important to Us? Pollinators include bees, butterflies, moths, birds, bats, beetles and other insects that move pollen within flowers, or carry it from flower to flower. About 1/3 of the food you eat such as almonds, berries and many other fruits and vegetables depend on pollinators. What is Happening to Bees? Honey bee colonies have been lost at unprecedented rates in recent years. The decline in honey bee health is a difficult problem with multiple contributing factors including: loss of habitat, parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition and pesticide exposure. Loss of Habitat Pesticide Exposure Genetics Parasites Disease Poor Nutrition Pesticides known to be particularly harmful to bees have special labels on them. To protect bees, it is important to read and follow label instructions when you use pesticides in your garden. * Extra Careful Some pesticides are highly toxic to bees. Overuse and misuse of pesticides can be bad for pollinators. Think about when and where pesticides may be applied without harming pollinators. For example, do not apply to blooming flowers, or at any time you see pollinators in an area. Tips for protecting bees when pesticide use is necessary: r\ r Do not apply pesticides when bees are likely to be flying. Bees generally are inactive from one hour after sunset to two hours before sunrise or when the temperature is below 55 F. Early evening application is best so pesticides can dry during the night. To minimize drift, do not apply pesticides on a windy day. Do not apply If needed, okay to apply apply Step 1: Identify the problem Knowing the problem is the first step towards solving it. Step 2: Try to solve the problem without pesticides Pests can often be managed safely without use of pesticides: Explore the University of California statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/index.html Step 3: Find the product that solves the problem All products do not work on every pest. Labels tell how and when products should be applied to deal with certain types of pests. How You Can Help When Managing Pests in Your Garden Step 4: Buy and use the right amount; more is not necessarily better Product labels tell how much to use to treat a problem. Using more can harm plants and lawns, and may be unsafe for people and pets. Some products might not work as well after being stored for a long period. A larger size might not be a good value. Step 5: Use the product according to the label Labels tell how to safely use products for best results. Use only the amount indicated. If the label tells you to mix a product in another container, make only as much as you can use. Do not ever apply more than is allowed by the label. Step 6: Pay attention to warnings affecting bees and other pollinators Understand when and how to apply the product to ensure pollinator safety. Use pollinator-friendly plants in your garden. Different flower colors, shapes and scents will attract a wide variety of pollinators. If you have limited space, you can plant flowers in containers on a patio, balcony and even window boxes. Plant Pollinator-Friendly Flowers Reduce or eliminate pesticide use on your pollinator-friendly garden. Incorporate plants that attract beneficial insects for pest control. If you use pesticides, follow the directions to be sure you use the pesticide safely. Find more information about pollinators at EPA's Pollinator Protection web page: http://www2.epa.gov/pollinator-protection Report Bee Kills To report a large bee kill, please contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at: beekill(S)epa.gov EPA-909-R-14-002 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency October 2015 ------- |