Bees require a varied diet that includes honey, pollen and nectar as these three nutrients supply most of their energy requirements.
Colonies often show a preference for certain flowers when collecting nectar and pollen – this is known as the “Nectar/Pollen Preference Effect”.
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Pollen Substitute
Pollen substitutes are a popular food item beekeepers provide to their colonies when natural pollen isn’t available. These supplements typically consist of sugar, amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
Beekeepers can place pollen substitutes directly above the brood nest in patty form or outside of the hive in dry powder form (Standifer et al., 1977; Somerville, 2005). Some dry pollen substitutes may even be reconstituted with sugar syrup to make them more appealing to bees.
Studies of pollen substitute consumption in the laboratory have demonstrated that caged worker bees do not consume them at the same rate as full colonies (Manning, 2018). However, protein content of individual bee body parts was higher for caged worker bees fed these substitutes than those without (DeGrandi-Hoffman et al., 2010; Ricigliano and Simone-Finstrom, 2020), suggesting improved hypopharyngeal gland development could be supported through improved pollen substitutes (Manning, 2018).
Sugar Syrup
Bees require a certain amount of sugar for their digestive systems to function optimally. We can make this nutritional necessity easier on bees by feeding them sugar syrup.
Beekeepers typically prepare syrup for their colonies using one part sugar to two parts water. This mixture provides the energy the bees require to promote brood rearing and begin building foundations.
However, the amount of sugar in nectar varies with weather conditions and plant blooms. Furthermore, nectar concentration may differ based on species, soil type and fertility levels.
Medium to strong bee colonies can be fed dry white table sugar placed on their hive mats or in-trays under the lid. Bees will mix the crystallized sugar with condensation from within or an external water source to form a partial syrup.
Dry sugar can be a nutritious food source for bee colonies that are not too weak, and it works best in autumn or spring when humidity levels are high. Unfortunately, dry sugar may become hard to liquefy during hot and dry summers when bees may struggle to dissolve it into liquid form.
Feeding Containers
Beekeepers have several options for feeding containers to supplement their colonies with sugar syrup. Some feeders work better in certain seasons than others.
External Hive-Top Feeders: These are containers that sit atop the hive or are enclosed within an empty super. They can hold plenty of syrup and usually don’t mold due to not being exposed to air.
They make for a convenient summer feeding option, as they can be emptied several times daily. Unfortunately, their fragile nature makes them vulnerable to wind or animal inhabitation.
Hive-top feeders: Similar to medium supers, these are placed atop the hive box containing the broodnest. This enables bees to continue using them even after outdoor temperatures drop.
Many beekeepers prefer using this type of feeder because it’s convenient and straightforward to refill without opening the hive. They may also be beneficial if the beekeeper has many hives to feed.
Feeding Bags
Feeding bags, also referred to as baggie feeders, are an easy and efficient way to provide your bees with nutrition. These feeders consist of a shallow frame that sits just under the hive’s inner cover, along with plastic feed bags holding syrup. After carefully slitting open these bags so your bees can access it safely, you’ll have provided them with plenty of nutrition!
One advantage of feeding bags is their cost-effective purchase. Furthermore, they can be recycled after use to reuse again.
Another advantage of using bags is that they take up minimal room in your beehive, leaving room for other essential supplies like brood comb.
Beekeepers typically feed their bees granulated white sugar at various ratios throughout the year, depending on local conditions. Sugar syrup is an ideal way to supplement natural food sources for bees like pollen and nectar.
