Honeybees’ Environment: Local Activist Speaks Out

SOUTH DENNIS — Local environmentalist Ruth Fisher is concerned that spraying for mosquitoes in the county is adversely affecting the honeybee population, and this spring she came before county freeholders to advise them of those concerns.
“I thought the least we could do is stop spraying Malathion®,” she told the Herald this week. “Not enough is known about the interaction of all these sprays, and their effects on the bee population.”
On March 27 she addressed county freeholders, requesting the Department of Mosquito Control refrain from using its aerial spray which contains Malathion®.
“I’ve fought for many years with the Mosquito Commission,” she said. “I, myself, kept bees for many years.”
Dr. Peter Bosak, superintendent of the county Department of Mosquito Control, said the department does use Malathion® in its aerial spray program, but it’s done with very strict controls, with mandated public notice, and with specific notice given to registered beekeepers so they can do what is necessary to protect their hives before spraying.
This year, the department has conducted aerial spraying on one occasion, due to the specific challenges the cattail mosquito presents. The cattail mosquito cannot be eradicated in the larval stage, as other types of mosquitoes can be, as it has a unique method of harvesting oxygen underwater during its development. Thus, aerial spraying is the only effective measure against it.
“There’s probably a list of about 20 things attributed to the decline in bees, including cell phone use and all the other things put forth,” said Bosak. “I think it’s important to wait for a decision by the experts. It’s not a new problem, and it’s not specific to Malathion®. It’s happening all over the world.”
Bosak said his department keeps a registered list of beekeepers for notification purposes.
“Beekeepers have to notify us of the location of the hives, so we give them ample notice, and most of them just close up their hives,” he said. “We certainly have the bees and beekeepers in mind when we spray.”