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Do systemic insecticides poison the nectar and pollen of flowers?

Posted by roselee z8 SW Texas (My Page) on
Tue, Feb 5, 08 at 20:39

There is a discussion on the Texas Garden Forum about the use the systemic insecticides. The question arose on whether it poisoned the nectar and pollen of the flowers as well as the leaves. I thought you folks might know the answer to that. Have there been any studies done on it?


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Do systemic insecticides poison the nectar and pollen of flow

  • Posted by ccrb1 z5 IND (My Page) on
    Sun, Feb 10, 08 at 22:30

Not necessarily.

And here's why I say it.

Systemics typically exhibit themselves in the sap and plant juices. Poison Ivy sap is highly toxic, yet the nectar of the plant, when bees slurp on the tiny flowers, is harmless.

On the other hand, the use of systemics is taking out a huge number of insects and bees. Just not necessarily nectar or pollen.

Recent analysis of pollen shows a lot of contamination, including pesticides. The soup of other chemicals found suggest the pollen on the flowers is being tainted by airborne chemicals including sprayed pesticides.


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RE: Do systemic insecticides poison the nectar and pollen of flow

ccrb1, thank you for your reply. It had never occured to most people on the Texas Garden Web that systemic insecticides could be transfered to the nectar.

That's very interesting about about the nectar of poison ivy flowers being benign.


 
 

 

 


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