Locust spray potentially deadly for bee industry

SWEET DISPOSITION… Local Congupna Beekeeper, Max Diprose with some of his busy bees.
Posted by The Adviser in Rural Adviser on 11 Aug 2010 at 12:00 am

WHILE the fight against the pending locust plague rages, beekeepers are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact which spraying will have on the bee industry.
Local Congupna Beekeeper, Max Diprose said, “It is very important that locusts are sprayed to lessen the impact come spring, but the spray is very volatile for bees and will wipe them out if they come into contact.”
Mr Diprose has been a beekeeper in the area for more than 30 years and currently maintains more than 700 hives containing an average of between 70,000 and 80,000 bees in each.
Mr Diprose spoke about the importance of the role which bees play in the pollination cycle of plants saying, “If an almond flower for example is not pollinated by a bee, then it will never become a nut.” This result would mean almond production in locust spraying areas would become nonexistent.
Farmers planning to spray are being urged to be mindful of local hives and to stay in contact with local beekeepers to ensure that hives can be moved in time.
“All hives are registered with the Government, so farmers can easily find out which beekeeper the hives belong to, so they can be moved if need be,” Mr Diprose said.

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