What Is a Pollinator Protection Management Program?

Pollinators are a valuable part of the ecosystem. Honey bees, in particular, are important to the agricultural system and the food supply it generates. It has been well documented that honey bees have faced — and continue to face — significant threats, including parasites and disease, habitat loss, and pesticide toxicity. Pollination management strategies can help protect these valuable creatures and their habitats. To this end, leaders in the pest management industry, such as Mosquito Joe®, take pollinator protection seriously.

Mosquito Joe prioritizes professionalism, extensive training, and strict adherence to state regulations, and our approach to pollinator protection is no different. Our Pollinator Protection Management Program is designed around three key areas: familiarity with customer property, application procedures, and the environmental impact of the products we use.

Benefits of Implementing a Pollinator Protection Management Program

Pollination management programs help to safeguard biodiversity. By preserving the habitats and reducing exposure to harmful pesticides, such programs can help ensure the pollination of both crops and wild plants. In turn, this promotes sustainable agriculture and natural ecosystems. Protecting pollinators helps ecosystems become more resilient. A healthy pollinator population contributes to improved air and water quality. It also helps to conserve native flora and fauna. Ultimately, pollinator protection plans foster a more harmonious balance between nature and human activity.

Assessing Pollinator Needs

Pollination management starts with an assessment of your property. Our service professionals thoroughly inspect your property every time they perform a job. In the context of pollinator protection, this helps ensure that plants and shrubs that are flowering or on the verge of flowering are clearly identified and treated accordingly, either with specific products or not at all.

When applying our synthetic barrier products, our experts do not spray within ten (10) feet of flowering plants and shrubs, plants and shrubs on the verge of flowering, or vegetable gardens. Wind direction is also considered when spraying and may necessitate a greater standoff distance than 10 feet.

Of course, protecting pollinators is just one of our goals. When you request our Mosquito and Tick Control Services, you can count on quality results. Our unique approach helps ensure that pollinators are protected without requiring you to sacrifice your yard to mosquitoes or ticks. Our goal is always to find the most harmonious approach to protect our pollinators without jeopardizing your comfort.

Creating Pollinator-Friendly Habitats

While pesticides are a potential factor for pollinators, the concern is largely with neonicotinoids, a family of pesticides that we do not use. In addition, if requested by the customer to spray flowering plants and shrubs, or plants and shrubs on the verge of flowering, or vegetable gardens, we have a product that is suitable for this purpose, and we closely follow the manufacturer’s application instructions. We use a different selected product when treating beekeepers’ properties, applied in strict adherence to the EPA-registered label. You can count on Mosquito Joe to operate in accordance with the laws and regulations of each state and the Pollinator Protection Act.

We pride ourselves on our communication with our customers, from providing education to working together to customize a treatment plan for each individual property.

bees landing on a white flower

Get Involved in the Pollinator Protection Management Program

Mosquito Joe is dedicated to staying updated on emerging trends and advancements related to pollination management, with a particular focus on honey bees. Extensive research conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Agriculture, and various industry associations has revealed multiple factors contributing to the declining health of honey bees.

Several stressors significantly impact bee health, including the following:

  • Varroa mite: Reports recognize this pest as the primary and most detrimental factor affecting pollinators.
  • Pathogens and viruses: The bacterial disease “American foulbrood,” in particular, poses a significant threat.
  • Pesticide exposure: Neonicotinoids, specifically in the context of commercial agriculture applications, can be harmful.
  • Bee management practices: Long migratory routes undertaken to support pollination efforts may be stressful.
  • Poor nutrition: Loss of foraging habitats from suburban development and an increased reliance on supplemental diets result in less-than-ideal health.

The aforementioned factors collectively contribute to the complex challenges faced by honey bees and highlight the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to protect and enhance their well-being. Mosquito Joe remains committed to addressing these issues and staying at the forefront of initiatives aimed at promoting pollinator protection plans.

If you’re ready to join the mission and work toward protecting pollinators while keeping mosquitoes and ticks away, request a free quote today. And with the Neighborly Done Right Promise™ and our own Mosquito Joe guarantee, you can count on quality results every time.