Oregon curbs pesticide use to halt bee die-offs

The Oregon Department of Agriculture said Friday is takingadded steps to protect bees and other pollinators from exposure tospecific pesticide products following multiple incidents of bee deaths thissummer.

Inadopting a temporary rule, ODA is prohibiting the use of pesticideproducts containing the active ingredients dinotefuran and imidacloprid onlinden trees or other species of Tilia.

The rule applies to allusers, including professional applicators and homeowners.

“Although we took significantsteps last year to restrict the use of these pesticide products, we’ve seenmore cases involving bumblebees attracted to blooming linden trees andpesticide applications,” said ODA DirectorKaty Coba. “In order to protect ourpollinators, we feel it’s important to adopt additional restrictions.”

Last year, based on high-profile incidents of bee deaths, ODA adopted a required label statement onpesticide products containing imidacloprid and dinotefuran prohibiting theapplication of these products on linden treesand other Tilia species.

For2014, newly-labeled products distributed into Oregon are required to state therestriction. Products with pre-2014 labels are still in commerce and, prior tothe temporary rule, could be used when plantswere not in bloom.

Two recentincidents of large bee deaths – one in Eugene, the other in Beaverton – involvedthe use of imidacloprid products with an older label, which alerts the userthat the product is “highly toxic to beesexposed to direct treatment orresidues.”

To address confusion or misunderstanding caused by having twodifferent label statements, ODA is simply prohibiting the application of anyproduct containing imidacloprid or dinotefuran onlinden, basswood, and othertrees of Tilia species.

Failure to comply with thenew rule could result in license suspension or revocation as well as impositionof a civil penalty.

The temporary rule, whichgoes into effect immediately, will be enforced for 180 days and will protectpollinators while allowing ODA to complete its investigation of recent beedeath incidents as well as determine any futureregulatory actions.

ODA is contacting allpesticide license holders in Oregon regarding the new rule and will continue toprovide outreach and education on pollinator protection. Additional informationcan be found on the ODA website at<http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/PEST/Pages/Pollinator.aspx>.