If you are planning to provide supplemental pollen to your honey bee colonies, you’ll want to follow a few basic steps to prepare these tasty treats. Providing honey bee pollen patties to your colony can have a number of beneficial effects. In this article, I will explain how you can provide supplemental pollen for your colony and provide it in an enjoyable and convenient manner.
Providing supplemental pollen to honey bee colonies
Providing supplemental pollen to honey bea colonies is an important strategy for beekeepers. This is because pollen is an essential source of protein, lipids, vitamins, and minerals. Pollen contains ten essential amino acids that all animals require and cannot synthesize. As such, honey bees can’t make their own protein. The majority of their diet comes from pollen. A typical colony of bees collects approximately 10 to 26 kg of pollen a year.
Providing supplemental pollen to honey bey colonies may be beneficial if the colony is facing an extended period of low brood rearing. However, beekeepers should note that the amount of pollen a colony receives is dependent on local weather, the types of plants and bee strain, and the size of the colony. When providing supplemental pollen to honey bee colonies, be sure to provide the colony with at least six combs of pollen. Ideally, the supplemental pollen should be provided after the winter solstice.
A number of studies have been conducted to determine the effects of providing supplemental pollen to honey bee colonies. For example, in an experiment published in the journal J. Apiculture, Bees fed on pollen substitutes produced more honey than colonies that were not.
Positive effects of pollen patties on colonies
The results of this study showed that honey bee colonies fed natural pollen did better than those fed artificial pollen. In fact, the colonies that received the patty had the most measurable positive effect while the ones that received the unsupplemented control had the least. In fact, colonies fed the supplemented control groups had fewer colonies at the end of January and didn’t recover as quickly as those that received the patties. The main reason for the difference was the patty itself, which contained half as much protein as the supplemented control group.
Pollen from flowers provides bees with protein and carbohydrates for their developing larvae. When pollen is insufficient, the larvae are less able to get enough protein and are unable to develop well. This reduces their lifespan and causes them to forage earlier. Pollen-deprived larvae also become poor communicators and make mistakes in their dance language. Another important way that bees get their protein and carbohydrates from pollen is through bee bread, which is fermented pollen.
In the study, two groups of 31 colonies were randomly chosen and were separated by 15 meters. The groups were placed in two separate foraging areas. The colonies in group P consumed pollen from the surrounding plantation, while the colonies in group M only ate pollen from the E. grandis plantation. The results of this experiment indicate that pollen patties can increase colony brood numbers.
Ways to provide supplemental pollen
You can feed your honey bees pollen patties during the spring and fall periods when there is a dearth of nectar. This will ensure that adult bees have enough food to forage. Some commercial beekeepers also supplement during the winter months. These types of foods are not cheap, so it’s important to provide the proper amount to satisfy their needs.
The best pollen substitute for honey bees should have similar characteristics as the natural product. It should be easily digestible and contain the right balance of crude proteins and amino acids. Currently, there are six commercial pollen substitutes available in the U.S. The most popular are the Ultra Bee and MegaBee, although AP23 is a recent addition to the market. Beekeepers generally report similar acceptance of the products.
The amount of supplemental honey bee pollen patties depends on the hive conditions, bee needs, and bee interest. You can provide up to three one-half lb. patties per day, but you can double the quantity if needed. For a large number of patties, you can use a pie pan, paper plates, or any other pan that fits under the hive lid. Make sure that the mold is lightly oiled and has a flat, heat-proof surface.
Providing supplemental pollen patties for your honey bees can be a good way to keep them healthy and fat throughout the winter months. But beware of the risks involved. You must make sure that the pollen you’re feeding is pathogen-free before you begin feeding it to your bees.
