Australia: Fire ant treatment tested on hives, and honey after concerns raised over safety

Published 2024년 11월 13일

Tridge summary

The National Fire Ant Eradication Program (NFAEP) in Queensland, Australia, has confirmed that its fire ant treatments do not pose a threat to bees. The program's treatments, which use soybean oil and a low concentration of an insect growth regulator, were found to have no detectable residue in honey and wax from a bee hive. The treatments are unattractive to bees due to their lack of sugar and the large granule size. Fire ants pose a significant threat to bees by attacking protein sources in hives, which can weaken and collapse bee colonies. The Queensland Beekeepers Association emphasizes the importance of vigilance to protect bees from fire ants and other pests. The Australian Pest and Veterinary Authors Association (APVMA) has been overseeing the safety and effectiveness of the products used for fire ant treatment for over 20 years.

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Original content

A bee collects pollen from a poppy as the National Fire Ant Eradication Program confirmed its treatment was safe for bees as they foraged on nectar and pollen from specific sources. Picture: Alison Paterson A National Fire Ant Eradication Program spokesperson has been forced to confirm fire ant treatments are not harmful to bees after being contacted about a dead hive. All articles from our website & app The digital version of This Week's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox All articles from the other agricultural news sites in your area The spokesperson said no detectable residue of the program's treatment product was found when NFAEP conducted residue testing on the honey and wax from the hive. NFAEP principal scientist Dr Erin Wallace said the treatments were unattractive for bees. "Unlike our treatment, fire ants pose a major risk to bee populations essential for pollination and ecosystem health," Dr Wallace said. "Fire ant eradication treatment is safe for bees as ...

Source: Queenslandcountrylife