Beekeepers typically rely on pollen patties to increase hive populations during late winter and early Spring, particularly if their colony needs to speed up brood-rearing before natural pollen becomes available.
Patties made of dry pollen substitute can also be found, though most commonly bees will collect them through feeders. When mixed with sugar and water, this powder forms a “patty” that bees can collect.
Contents
1. Protein
All hives require protein for healthy colonies, and modern commercial pollen replacement products containing up to 50% protein can provide it. When placed directly in the hive, nurse bees eat it directly, stimulating glands that secrete brood food while the queen lays her eggs – this increases colony strength during winter and early Spring.
This patty is composed of 15% real bee pollen, Hive Alive liquid and seaweed nutrient additives – highly accepted by bees! Perfect for feeding during late winter/early spring to stimulate brood rearing ahead of the honey flow season.
An interesting result was found with the Natural Patty. Although its pollen content was by far lower than any other tested patty, it outshone both positive control and supplement groups in performance. Perhaps something in bees’ natural pollen utilization makes it more effective as a supplement than commercial products? Or possibly other ingredients in its recipe make it more appealing?
2. Carbohydrates
Bees require carbohydrates to feed their brood and build their colonies during spring. Pollen patties typically contain 40-50% carbohydrates that the bees convert into honey production.
I observed that bees enthusiastically devoured all patty types tested without showing any preferences one way or the other. Indeed, even those containing natural pollen such as Global and Homebrew (both advertised as 15% natural trapped Calif foothill pollen irradiated against pathogens) were devoured at roughly equal rates to completely artificial diets.
However, I did notice that sugar content of the patties did have an impact on how quickly bees would consume them. Pattys with higher sugar contents-AP23 and MegaBee-were not consumed as quickly as those with lower levels-Clear Bee, Thrive and Honeybee Healthy-for reasons unknown to me; perhaps bees require time for fermentation of beebread before fully digesting their meals?
3. Fat
Bees need protein and carbohydrates as well as fat for rearing brood, so modern pollen substitutes contain extra fats to replicate the nutritional value of natural foraged pollen and promote colony building. Furthermore, this may contribute to hive expansion.
Don’t be misled into thinking feeding high-fat pollen substitute will guarantee more brood, so before using such supplements a beekeeper should evaluate what population level would best meet their goals.
An important criterion in assessing a pollen substitute’s value lies in its rapid consumption by bees and digestion by them quickly and effortlessly. At winter-solstice feeding trial, natural pollen patties consumed swiftly by bees with little variance between colonies; Drivert sugar-containing patties showed greater disparities among colonies regarding consumption rates (Figure 8).
4. Vitamins
Global patties (commonly referred to as pollen substitutes) contain protein, carbohydrates and fat as well as essential vitamins and minerals that provide beekeepers with a means to ensure that their colonies receive proper nourishment during periods when natural foraging isn’t feasible or weather conditions make flying impossible for bees. As such, many beekeepers use them when the bees need assistance getting food when natural foraging is unavailable or difficult for bees.
These nutrients are especially essential in regions affected by Small Hive Beetle (SHB). Since SHB tends to kill bees more quickly than infest them, beekeepers need to ensure that their colonies have all of the essential vitamins and minerals for survival.
Global and Homebrew products typically contain 15% real honey bee pollen that has been irradiated against pathogens, making these supplements or extenders rather than complete pollen substitutes, since some natural pollen is still consumed through food sources. Therefore, these supplements would be most useful as brood production boosters in springtime, while late winter use might give an added boost prior to summer pollen arriving.
