Collateral Damage

SC Wipes Out Bee Population in Zika Fight

One farm alone lost 2.5 million bees.

South Carolina authorities have killed off millions of bees by spraying pesticides meant to destroy Zika-carrying mosquitoes. Dorchester County has gone above and beyond in its efforts to prevent the spread of the Zika virus, even using airplanes to dispense pesticides for the first time on Sunday. But residents say the measure has had devastating effects on beekeepers in the area, with 2.5 million bees believed to have been killed on one bee farm alone—in one day. Juanita Stanley, co-owner of the Flowertown Bee Farm and Supply in Summerville, which lost more than two million bees on Sunday, said the farm “looks like it’s been nuked.” Dorchester County authorities acknowledged the bee deaths Tuesday, promising that residents would be warned three to five days in advance of any future aerial spraying of pesticides.