honeybee gasmask mini buttonAerial mosquito spraying is planned for Joint Base Langley-Eustis, the Coast Guard base, and nearby areas of Portsmouth between 6 PM and 8 PM Tuesday, August 4th through Thursday, August 6th. 

A C-130 Hercules plane will fly 150 to 200 feet above the areas that are being sprayed. The organophosphate insecticide used is Trumpet® Concentrate containing the active ingredient naled. NALED IS HIGHLY TOXIC TO HONEY BEES.  Beehives should be protected by beekeepers in the spray area.

If you live anywhere near the areas being sprayed, take precautions.  The University of Florida states on their Mosquito Information Website, "Adulticides have been shown to drift three miles and in some extreme instances up to five miles (Dukes et al. 2004). One study in the Florida Keys found that aerial thermal fog drifted 750 meters (½ mile)".

In 2003, the US National Library of the Medicine National Institutes of Health published the results of a study on the impact of naled on honey bee survival and productivity.  

There are a few actions beekeepers can take to protect their bees:

  • Confine bees to their hive(s) and cover with material such as sheets, blankets or burlap soaked in water; the evaporation will help to cool the hive.  Beekeepers may also add extra boxes to the hive to allow the confined bees space to expand and avoid overheating.  If the hive has a screened bottom board, drape the hive to the ground to prevent the bees from moving the ULV droplets of pesticide into the hive through their fanning activity.
  • Since honey bees remain in the hive during rainy weather, a sprinkler or misting device may be deployed over the hive(s) to mimic rain and prevent foraging behavior.
  • Move hive(s) to an area outside the spray and drift zone.

The press release states, "The product isn't considered harmful to humans or animals. People with allergies to insecticides should stay inside during the spraying".  Citizens may want to educate themselves about naled and its effect on off-target species including humans.  Click here to read more.

Still have questions?  Call Portsmouth Mosquito hotline at 757-393-8666 for the latest information.