Start with the need for an intervention
Use prevention and monitoring before intervention. Inspect the crop, identify the pest and natural predators, then compare the control options against the observed damage and pest pressure.
Bee friendly insecticide and honey bee safe insecticide: what the label says about bees
A bee friendly or honey bee safe description does not settle the question for any insecticide, including an insecticidal soap or a pyrethrin product. The bee wording on the label of the exact product does.
Environmental protection forms part of the product's statutory use conditions. Match the product name, MAPP reference and active ingredients to the container before retrieving the full label and accompanying leaflet.
Products that may harm bees are labelled harmful, dangerous, extremely dangerous or high risk to bees. Use the HSE register guide to find the label for the exact product.
Do not use a product labelled hazardous to bees on crops or weeds in open flower or part bloom, unless the label allows it.
Pesticides that kill bees: pyrethrin and other insecticides
Which pesticides kill bees depends on the exact product, not on the active-substance family: pyrethrin and any other insecticide are judged by the bee wording on the label of the product in the tank. Products that may harm bees are labelled harmful, dangerous, extremely dangerous or high risk to bees, and a product labelled hazardous to bees is not used on crops or weeds in open flower or part bloom unless the label allows it.
Inspect flowering crops, weeds and nearby forage
Check for bees visiting the crop and flowering weeds. Honeydew produced by aphids also attracts bees.
Include drift and neighbouring vegetation
Do not let pesticide drift into bee hives or into hedgerows or fields where bees, including bumblebees, may be looking for food. Identify and mitigate the risks to nearby bee forage and hives.
Watercourses need a separate untreated buffer: see the LERAP guide.
Make beekeeper communication specific to the planned work
Tell the beekeepers identified in your environmental risk assessment, or the local beekeepers' spray liaison officer, 48 hours before use at the times of year when bees are at risk, or whenever the pesticide specifically harms bees. Tell them again if you change your plans.
Keep your spray records in one place. Free to start.
The British Beekeepers’ Association can identify local spray-liaison contacts in England; use the Welsh Beekeepers’ Association for Wales.
If you suspect a bee poisoning incident
In England, the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme investigates relevant suspected pesticide incidents involving beneficial invertebrates. Honeybee investigations involve liaison with the National Bee Unit and Bee Inspector.
Crop spraying near homes and public access
Notify nearby occupiers as good practice and check the label for any legal warning requirement. For a few products the law requires you to warn nearby people, and the product label says so.
Take special care near hospitals and schools, and where there are public rights of way.
Ornamental and turf pest control
In the public amenity areas covered by the professional-use guidance, keep pesticide amount and frequency as low as reasonably practicable.
Turf and protected ornamentals have different product examples
Acelepryn targets chafer grubs and leatherjackets in turf. Azatin targets western flower thrips and onion thrips in protected ornamentals. The label lists the crop or situation that may be treated, so check that your site is on it.
Timing, bloom and other beneficial insects
Spray in the evening when bees have stopped flying: this gives the pesticide several hours to dry before bees become active again. Bumblebees may still be foraging later in the evening than honeybees. If you have to spray during the day, choose a cool cloudy day or the early morning.
The environmental assessment also covers other beneficial insects such as ladybirds and lacewings. The label may forbid spraying a margin around the treated area or set other restrictions, such as spraying before a certain date.
Next step
Use the IPM plan to decide whether treatment is needed, and find the label in the HSE register guide.