The other day I had a question from someone who wanted to know what insecticide to use for controlling ticks in the yard. They had a new puppy and were concerned that the pup was too young for a topical flea and tick treatment. To complicate matters, they had a beehive and were concerned about making sure the bees were not harmed.

In consulting my references, I found that most of the tick control products that could be sprayed on the lawn were, in fact, toxic to bees. And since this person had a typical lawn with a few broadleaf weeds, including clover, it was very likely that bees foraged in the lawn.

However, I did find that the pup was in fact old enough for the topical treatments. I also found that a chemical called eugenol might be an option, since the label did not mention any restrictions to protect bees.

Another option would be to mow the lawn to remove the flowers of any broadleaf plants before spraying, and to apply at a time of day when the bees are not actively foraging. He could also limit the risk by treating only a small area of the lawn where the puppy could be confined.

But even if there is no beehive nearby, caution is still warranted. In North Carolina there are numerous species of native bees and other pollinators that play a vital role in crop production. We should all do our part to protect them, limiting pesticide use as much as possible, and applying them correctly when they are needed.

Ultimately, the answer to these questions can be found on the product label. Any pesticide that is harmful to bees will include that information on the instructions, and provide information on how to use it safely. Yet another reason that reading the label and following the instructions is so vital when using pesticides to control weeds, insect, diseases, etc.