Pesticides and PARC

How to report a suspected pesticide-related bee kill

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) Pesticide Program, responds to all allegations of bee kills or die-offs alleged to be pesticide related. 

Pesticide investigators may 

• Collect physical evidence (such as dead bees or treated vegetation)
  
• Collect and review pesticide application records
  
• Interview beekeepers and pesticide applicators
  

ODA often works with Oregon State University (OSU) and beekeepers to identify whether bee kills or die-offs are pesticide related, or the result of poor nutrition, parasites, disease, or other factors. In certain instances, dead bees are analyzed by the ODA laboratory for pesticide residues. 

During the investigation, ODA uses standard investigative protocol as well as US EPA Guidance on responding to bee-related incidents. The investigative findings are provided to the US EPA on a quarterly basis.

When to contact ODA

Alleged pesticide-related incidents must be reported in a timely manner. This is because pesticide residues break down over time, bee carcasses degrade, crops are harvested, memories fade, or pesticide application information may not be available.​

Pesticide advisory about pollinators

​​Pollinators and pesticide labels

Pollinators are extremely important to Oregon's agricultural community, pollinating many crops. Oregon is proactive in protecting bees and other pollinators and currently requires specific label language prohibiting the use of the neonicotinoid pesticides, dinotefuran and imidacloprid, on linden, basswood and Tilia species trees.

At the federal level, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has required special label restrictions to neonicotinoid pesticides in order to protect pollinators. The active ingredients that will have special label language are as follows:

• Clothianidin
  
• Dinotefuran
  
• Imidacloprid
  
• Thiamethoxam​
  

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