Notification issued on 8/2/2011 at 3:00 PM. The Department of Health will be spraying for mosquitoes in a number of areas tomorrow and the next day. For more notices and maps of affected areas go here: http://home2.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/wnv/wnvspray.shtml

(AFFECTED ZIPCODES LISTED AT THIS WRITING INCLUDE: 11355, 11358, 11364, 11365, 11366, 11423 and 11427;
11215, 11218, 11219, 11225, 11226, 11232 and 11238;
11691 and 11692).

Jim notes that larvicides, which are placed in water, are mostly harmless to bees, while adulticides are toxic to bees. The active ingredient in the pesticide ANVIL that is being sprayed this time is an adulticide. known to be highly toxic to bees.

(Sumithrin* see note below).

With the hot weather, many bees will be on the hive exterior, even at night.

"Prudent beekeepers set up a cheap plastic tarp as a tent fly over the hive so the bees are protected from falling chemical but still get ventilation. Extend it forward well in front of the hive so that the bees on the front will be protected as well as possible, and stake it down securely" says Jim.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Dining_fly_tent% 29.png

Thanks to Dennis Law for calling this to everyone's attention.

* From http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/sumithrin_d-phenothrin_red.pdf :
(3) Non-Target Terrestrial Insects
Phenothrin has been demonstrated to be highly toxic on an acute contact basis to non-target terrestrial insects, particularly to honeybees. Honeybees may also face indirect dietary risks from phenothrin toxicity. In addition to phenothrin�s high toxicity, the potential for non-target insect exposure to phenothrin is high because phenothrin is most often applied between April to October to control mosquitoes; non-target insects are also at their most active during this time of year. Because of the large exposure potential and high toxicity determination, phenothrin may pose significant acute risks to non-target insects.

NYC Beekeeping is an association of over 999 beekeepers and bee-lovers, founded in 2006, operating on a not-for-profit basis.
We offer a free in-depth course in beekeeping together with our sister group Gotham City Honey Co-op, expert and peer mentoring, a cooperative purchase program, and community service & outreach activities throughout the year. Members work with urban farms, community gardens, the NYC Parks Dept., schools and other organizations to foster a strong community of responsible urban beekeepers, to bring training & economic opportunity through beekeeping to under-served areas, to conserve and protect honeybees and other pollinators, and to contribute to the program and fundraising capacities of selected other not-for-profit organizations