Special Speaker - Mary Ellen Gadski 

Taking Action Against 

Mosquito Fogging Harmful Drift   

The incidence of Mosquito Fogging has increased dramatically! Doing so poses numerous questions and concerns. Questions and issues include:

• The impact of pyrethroids, the active ingredients, is NOT limited to mosquitos. ALL insects are affected, as well as birds and other wildlife
• There are widespread health and environmental impacts.
• Is pyrethroid spraying the most effective way to control mosquitos?
• Pyrethroid drift onto neighboring properties is difficult to control. 
• Are there effective “Best Practices”?  What are they?
• Explore these issues and more Here.  And at our May 20th Meeting. 

Come Listen Learn. 

😃  This is an awesome opportunity!  Let’s give a Grand CIBA Welcome!  😃

Other Meeting items: 

• Swarming Updates:  
• Hive Inspection Guidelines
• Bring Your Questions? 

• How are your colonies doing?  What should you be watching for?
• Strong nectar flows should continue for the next few weeks. - Are you prepared?
• Guard against “Honey Bound” brood areas. This backfilling encourages swarming and can lead to collapsing colony populations 
• Swarming: 
• Examine brood area frequently… Every 5 to 7 days
• Queen cells visible?  (Know difference between Q-cells and Drone Cells)
• Uncapped (Q larvae visible) - Swarming in  6 to 9 days. 
• Capped?:  Swarming is Zero to 6 days.
• These are estimates (err on the safe side)
• What are your options?
• Make a split:  Requires having being prepared ahead of time!
• Nuc-box or single deep hive set-up
• Frames equivalent to size of nuc-box or 
• Destroy Q-cells? - Often does not work, they will swarm anyway
• What if your bees DO swarm? 
• Capture swarm if safe to do so, 
• YOU capture swarm:  MUST be prepared IN ADVANCE 
• Seek assistance of an experienced beekeeper
• Look for Beekeeping May and June  calendars in a separate email