Honey bees, native bees, and other pollinators play an essential role in pollinating fruits, vegetables, flowers, and agricultural crops. In recent decades, news about bee poisonings, colony collapse disorder (CCD), and native bee species population decline has been on the rise. Although the definitive reason behind most of these mass bee deaths has not been determined, pesticides are one of many contributing factors. Pesticides, such as neonicotinoids, pose a threat to bee health and have been linked to mass bee deaths. Homeowners can reduce negative health impacts on bees by using alternative pest control methods, reading pesticide labels, and avoiding applying pesticides to plants in bloom.
How to Protect Pollinators from Pesticides
Alternative Pest Control
There are many alternative methods that can prevent or reduce pests without harming bee and pollinator health. Preventative measures include planting pest repellent plants or plants that attract beneficial insects, which can keep pest populations low. Low-level infestations can be controlled using mechanical or non-chemical methods.
Mechanical Methods:
- Hand weeding
- Hose down plants to remove unwanted insects
- Prune infested portions of plants
- Use mulch to reduce the growth of weeds
- Encourage insect predators such as spiders, snakes, frogs, and birds
- Encourage beneficial predatory insects including ladybugs, wasps, lacewings, hoverflies, and ground beetles
- Nematodes can be added to soil and used to reduce soil insects
Apply Pesticides After Flower Petals Have Fallen
The best time to apply pesticides to plants is after flower petals have fallen. This reduces the risk of pollinators encountering pesticides when foraging on flowers in bloom. Applying pesticides in the evening or when temperatures are low is another strategy used to avoid pesticide contact with pollinators.To prevent pesticides from drifting off the intended target, apply pesticides in dry weather with low wind.
Before applying pesticides, assess the target area and avoid contaminating any standing water. Bees and other insects rely on standing water for hydration. If you must spray ornamental plants that are in bloom, the WSDA recommends choosing a pesticide that is less toxic to bees or applying pesticides at a low dosage.
Before applying pesticides, assess the target area and avoid contaminating any standing water. Bees and other insects rely on standing water for hydration. If you must spray ornamental plants that are in bloom, the WSDA recommends choosing a pesticide that is less toxic to bees or applying pesticides at a low dosage.
Read the Pesticide Label
Carefully follow pesticide label instructions and advisories. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all pesticides that pose a potential risk to bees or other pollinators, to display a bee advisory icon. The pesticide label will state the level of toxicity and the residual toxicity. Residual toxicity refers to the amount of time it takes for a pesticide to break down in the environment. Pesticides with residual toxicity of eight hours or longer are responsible for the majority of bee poisoning incidents.
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Neonicotinoids
Neonicotinoids are a class of insecticides that are toxic to bees for several days after an application. Neonicotinoids are widely used to grow agricultural crops, by homeowners on ornamental gardens, and on pets for flea and tick treatments. Beginning January 1, 2026, neonicotinoid pesticides can only be applied to outdoor plants, trees, or turf by licensed applicators, by tree injection, or for agricultural purposes. To learn more visit our neonicotinoids webpage.
How to Identify and Report Bee Poisonings
Pay attention to the signs and symptoms of honey bee pesticide poisonings. The main indicator that honey bees are suffering from pesticide poisoning include:
Pesticide Compliance Program
877-301-4555
pcompliance@agr.wa.gov
- A large number of dead bees outside the hive entrance
- Increased defensiveness
- abnormal movements
- paralysis
Pesticide Compliance Program
877-301-4555
pcompliance@agr.wa.gov
WSDA has partnered with FieldWatch! FieldWatch is a nonprofit organization that provides free online mapping access to growers, pesticide applicators, and apiarists. The online maps show applicators where organic crops, specialty crops, and apiaries are located to prevent damage from spraying pesticides. To learn more, visit the FieldWatch website.