Honeybees & 2-4-D
Honeybees & 2-4-D in any amount can be detrimental to any honeybee colony where spray can contact either foraging bees or colonies. Drifting of 2-4-D can be limited by adding a soap solution to the herbicide which can be seen as foam or soap suds upon spraying. Honeybees & 2-4-D are claimed by the manufacturer to be safe for foraging bees. This simply is not true. The end result from our colonies being sprayed with 2-4-D and foraging honeybees bringing contaminated pollen and nectar to the hive resulted in years of work breeding VSH Queens a complete loss.
Commercial Agriculture Spraying field with the “Herbicide 2-4-D“
This page and the day to day detailed information which was collected after the spraying of the Herbicide 2-4-D was originally posted on our site after our main queen breeding yard received spray drift from a commercial agriculture spray truck on May 10, 2010. We removed this information after a short time as we felt there was little to no interest from other beekeepers in what we personally experienced and what the effects of the herbicide 2-4-D had on our queen breeding colony operation. After much thought and a few emails from other beekeepers we have decided to bring the page back.
Most herbicides contain the chemical 2-4-D (Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid). 2-4-D is a member of the phenoxy family of herbicides which was introduced in 1946 to control the spread and growth of broadleaf weeds which compete with crops and threaten yields.
Below is the results of EPA Test concerning Human Health. : Note result highlighted in Red
Honeybees & 2-4-D
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Human Health
- Is not carcinogenic in comprehensive “animal tests“.
- New Study: A recent 2010 study by Weichenthal, et al., reviewed 28 published studies from the Agricultural Health Study examining the potential link between cancers and occupational exposures of 32 pesticides. For the cancer evaluations where 2,4-D was included (pancreatic, colon, rectal, childhood), there was no positive association to 2,4-D found.
- Does not result in genetic damage that might cause cancer.
- Is not an endocrine disruptor; it does not mimic or block hormones which disrupt the body’s normal functions.
- Is not a developmental toxicant; it does not cause adverse effects on a developing child.
- Does not adversely affect reproduction.
- Has only a low to moderate acute toxicity when exposed to the concentrated material.
Ecological Health
- Practically non-toxic to both freshwater and estuarine/marine fish, amphibians (frogs).
- Only slightly toxic to aquatic invertebrates.
- Practically non-toxic to honeybees and earthworms.
Effects observed on our colonies after being exposed to the herbicide 2-4-D
Spreeder. The above picture was taken after the truck had already made 5 to 6 passes directly up wind.