Insecticides:
Insecticides are a pesticide that kills insects. There are many types of insects. Some are detrimental, such as the mosquito, which spreads deadly diseases. Some are beneficial, such as the honey bee, which is responsible for the pollination of many of the plants that we depend upon for our diet.
There are many different kinds of insecticides. Broad spectrum insecticides kill any insect that they come in contact with–beneficial or detrimental. Target insecticides are formulated to kill just certain species of insects. Colony collapse disorder, CCD, was defined in 2008. There are many causes which are being examined but one of the primary focus area for many researchers was a certain class of insecticide that appeared at the same time–neonicotinoids. A wealth of information may be found by reading/listening to the following links.
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201107/s3270136.htm
http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/01/21/3677470/beekeepers-abuzz-over-threats.html
http://westernfarmpress.com/cotton/environmental-task-force-takes-honey-bees-and-cotton-pesticides
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120112112722.htm
http://pierreterre.com/blog/bee-killing-pesticide-imidacloprid-voluntarily-withdrawn-almonds
http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=5fd2b1aa990e63193af2a573d&id=8f0d71d500&e=ab0e87e0da
http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/bspm/extension%20and%20outreach/Boulder%20Neonicotinoid%20Talk.pdf
Integrated Pest Management:
Integrated pest managment (IPM) is a strategy where insects are controlled through a variety of alternative practices with chemical controls (read insecticide) being the last step in the process NOT THE FIRST.
Please learn more about integrated pest management by clicking on the links below:
Colorado IPM Center: http://coloradoipmcenter.agsci.colostate.edu/
Western IPM center: http://www.wrpmc.ucdavis.edu/
High Plains IPM (great for ag crop IPM): http://wiki.bugwood.org/HPIPM:Main_Page
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/ipm.htm
http://www.spcpweb.org/factsheets/NaturalLawnCareforHomeowners.pdf
Bees are in trouble as are many of our pollinators. Please do not use chemical control unless you have exhausted all other alternatives. If you must use an insecticide, please refer to the data bases below for information on honey bee toxicity and use the least harmful product available. Remember to READ THE LABEL! Do not apply any insecticide to a blooming plant. Apply pesticides in the early morning or early evening-with evening being preferable-to ensure the product dries completely before a pollinator may come in contact with it.
National Pesticide Information Center
How to Reduce Bee Poisonings from Pesticides (Manual)
The Neonicotinoid Controversy:
http://news.yahoo.com/beekeepers-ask-epa-ban-pesticide-protect-bees-004548461.html
http://news.yahoo.com/honeybee-deaths-linked-corn-insecticides-221639948–abc-news.html
Click Here for Retail Neonicotinoid Products to Avoid. Thanks to Sangre de Cristo Beekeepers.