The Vancouver Park Board began it's annual pesticide spraying to remove the invasive Japanese beetle on April 3rd. "April 3 2020 – The Vancouver Park Board is set to begin larvicide treatment to eradicate Japanese beetle larvae in more than 30 parks, boulevards, medians, and other city land beginning April 6." This is the third year of treatment of an area that includes the West End, Downtown, Strathcona, Mount Pleasant, Fairview and Kitsilano neighbourhoods. The spraying has been effective in reducing the population of this potentially devastating intruder.
As stated the effects of the Japanese Beetle could be significant. "Japanese beetle larvae feed on the roots of lawns and other plants. Adults are heavy feeders, attacking the flowers, foliage, and fruit of more than 250 plant species, including roses, blueberries, and grapevines. The damage they cause is significant compared to other pests like European chafer beetles." (from City of Vancouver) Here is a mug shot of the deviant offender.
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| Japanese Beetle |
As a long time beekeeper and farmer who has heard these claims of bee friendly insecticides far too often in the past only to be proven later to have significant negative impact I had to check it out. Most of the studies I read agreed that Chlorantraniliprole had little or no effect on bees or other critters. It was often stated that bees would not be interested in turf which it is usually applied to since there was usually no flowers and that if there were flowers in the turf that the grass should be mowed before to remove the flowers and irrigated soon after. I've been running the Vancouver seawall for many years and the part by David Lam Park since it was built after expo. During my runs I observed the grass portion of the park covered in small flowers which were being heavily foraged upon by bumble bees. I observed them spraying on the flowers and foraging bumble bees while I ran by. In addition to this bumble bees nest in the ground and it's likely their nesting areas are being sprayed. We have found over the years a problem with studies that observe the effects on bees is that they are usually not long term and do not observe the sublethal effects (which over time become lethal). Here are a few studies that shows a potential significant negative impact of chlorantraniliprole on bee populations.
"BACKGROUND:
Pollinators such as the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, fulfil a crucial role in agriculture. In this context, tests were conducted with the insecticide chlorantraniliprole (Coragen®) as a model compound active on the ryanodine receptor of insects.
RESULTS:
Chronic oral exposure via pollen induced lethargic behaviour in B. terrestris workers and their offspring (drones). Indeed, in nests exposed to 0.4 mg L(-1) , representing 1/100 of the concentration recommended for use in the field, workers and drones did not take their defensive position upon stimulation and they were less active than non-exposed insects. The different risk assessment tests used here demonstrated that contact and pollen exposure had no effect on bumblebee worker survival, whereas oral exposure via sugar water caused both acute (72 h LC50 = 13 mg L(-1) ) and chronic (7 week LC50 = 7 mg L(-1) ) toxicity. Severe sublethal effects on reproduction were recorded in nests orally exposed to pollen treated with chlorantraniliprole.
CONCLUSION:
The present study identified an important physiological endpoint of sublethal effects on reproduction, as this is associated with lethargic behaviour after oral intake. As such, this is a factor that should now be incorporated into future risk assessments. Secondly, it confirmed that the assessment of sublethal effects on behaviour is needed for adequate risk assessment of 'potentially deleterious' compounds with a neurogenic target, as is also pointed out in the recent European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidelines (from "Dietary chlorantraniliprole suppresses reproduction in worker bumblebees")."
Here is a study of the effects on honey bees (Honey bees long-lasting locomotor deficits after exposure to the diamide chlorantraniliprole are accompanied by brain and muscular calcium channels alterations).
The point here is not to vilify Acelepryn as it is a much needed low impact larvacide (not no impact as stated by city sources) but to be clear and honest about the potential impact on other living things and to take the necessary steps to reduce that impact. All pesticides are toxic to some degree. The city field (Strathcona Park) adjacent to our apiary which at present houses both honey and blue mason bees is covered in clover and other assorted small flowers much of the growing year and has not as yet been cut similar to David Lam Park during the spraying of past years. In past years I have requested that the Parks Board cut the field adjacent to our apiary early in the morning to minimize the killing of the honey bees but as of yet they continue to cut in the middle of the day when the fields are covered in bees. As someone who has dealt with and worked for the federal, provincial and city governments for many years this is not a surprise. Maybe some day .....
Here is a study of the effects on honey bees (Honey bees long-lasting locomotor deficits after exposure to the diamide chlorantraniliprole are accompanied by brain and muscular calcium channels alterations).
The point here is not to vilify Acelepryn as it is a much needed low impact larvacide (not no impact as stated by city sources) but to be clear and honest about the potential impact on other living things and to take the necessary steps to reduce that impact. All pesticides are toxic to some degree. The city field (Strathcona Park) adjacent to our apiary which at present houses both honey and blue mason bees is covered in clover and other assorted small flowers much of the growing year and has not as yet been cut similar to David Lam Park during the spraying of past years. In past years I have requested that the Parks Board cut the field adjacent to our apiary early in the morning to minimize the killing of the honey bees but as of yet they continue to cut in the middle of the day when the fields are covered in bees. As someone who has dealt with and worked for the federal, provincial and city governments for many years this is not a surprise. Maybe some day .....
On a happier note my hives and those of friends have wintered well and are thriving with the warm, dry weather. The norm for us is 200 ml of precipitation for March and April and so far we have had 40 ml. Good foraging weather. Time for some early splits. Speaking of which as a result of Covid-19 a number of the flights from New Zealand and Australia (our primary source of spring bees) have been cancelled substantially reducing the number of packages available to replace winter losses and for spring pollination (BCHPA). The BCHPA is doing a survey to identify sources of spring bees in B.C. There are plenty of available queens but a shortage of bulk bees. Here is the survey.
One positive aspect of the Covid-19 pandemic is substantially cleaner air worldwide with the reduction in industry and auto use as seen in gas prices (more supply than demand).
This cleaner air should increase bee foraging efficiency as floral scent is masked by pollutants. "Results indicate that even moderate air pollutant levels (e.g., ozone mixing ratios greater than 60 parts per billion on a per volume basis, ppbv) substantially degrade floral volatiles and alter the chemical composition of released floral scents. As a result, insect success rates of locating plumes of floral scents were reduced and foraging times increased in polluted air masses due to considerable degradation and changes in the composition of floral scents. Results also indicate that plant-pollinator interactions could be sensitive to changes in floral scent composition, especially if insects are unable to adapt to the modified scentscape. The increase in foraging time could have severe cascading and pernicious impacts on the fitness of foraging insects by reducing the time devoted to other necessary tasks." (from a study "Air pollutants degrade floral scents and increase insect foraging times"). This reduced air pollution accompanied by the warm, dry weather mentioned earlier has created prime foraging conditions (urban irrigation has provided needed water). A real fear is that countries will sacrifice environmental regulations to financially recover from the pandemic (China pushes coal power to fight economic slump).
The restriction of movement brought about by Covid-19 has meant difficulty moving bees or getting feed for bees (Chinese beekeeper kills himself after his colonies starve). Hopefully this pandemic will be over soon. Stay safe.
