Zika spraying kills millions of honeybees
Nov 19, 2020
"Frangiosa Farms is sadden by the loss of so many bees from the aerial spraying of mosquitos that carry Zika. As defenders of bees we strive to establish healthy colonies in the face of bee decline. This is a huge loss and many beekeepers would not be able to come back after experiencing these type of losses. Bee Strong." Nick French, Bee Shepherd, Frangiosa Farms
Zika spraying kills millions of honeybees
(CNN)The pictures are heartbreaking: Millions of honeybees lie dead after being sprayed with an insecticide targeting Zika-carrying mosquitoes.
"On Saturday, it was total energy, millions of bees foraging, pollinating, making honey for winter," beekeeper Juanita Stanley said. "Today, it stinks of death. Maggots and other insects are feeding on the honey and the baby bees who are still in the hives. It's heartbreaking."
Stanley, co-owner of Flowertown Bee Farm and Supply in Summerville, South Carolina, said she lost 46 beehives -- more than 3 million bees -- in mere minutes after the spraying began Sunday morning.
"Those that didn't die immediately were poisoned trying to drag out the dead," Stanley said. "Now, I'm going to have to destroy my hives, the honey, all my equipment. It's all contaminated."
Stanley said Summerville Fire Capt. Andrew Macke, who keeps bees as a hobby, also lost thousands of bees. She said neither of them had protected their hives because they didn't know about the aerial spraying.
Source:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/01/health/zika-spraying-honeybees/