Beekeepers typically feed their hives in the fall to increase honey stores for winter survival. Bees require a substantial supply of stored honey during this time.
Low honey stores can be caused by a number of factors. Usually, this is due to an extended period of unfavorable weather or nectar scarcity.
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1. Sugar
Sugar is an essential element in bees’ fall feeding regimen. They use it for energy during the period between nectar dearth and their main honey flow, providing them with essential sustenance during this period.
Medium to strong colonies can benefit from dry white table sugar placed on their hive mats or in-trays under the lid. Water helps liquefy crystals of sugar, creating a partial syrup.
For optimal honeybee health, the syrup should have a 2:1 ratio of sugar to water (or one cup sugar to two cups water). A heavier syrup helps the bees remove moisture more readily.
Feeding syrup should be done during the fall season, before temperatures drop too low. Once temperatures drop too low, bees will stop taking their usual sweet treat.
2. Water
Bees have an insatiable thirst and can become dehydrated quickly if not given water from nearby sources such as creeks, bird baths or pools.
However, water can also be toxic to bees. For instance, puddles sprayed with chemicals like chlorine or pesticides may pose a danger to these tiny flying creatures.
Therefore, it is essential to keep your garden free from weeds and polluted water to help prevent bees from drinking polluted liquid. This includes muddy puddles and gutters filled with decaying plant matter.
Feed bees with sugar solutions (one sugar to one water) or sugar candy is another way of providing nutrition. A 2:1 ratio of sugar to water is typically recommended for spring and early fall feeding, while a 1:1 mixture can be used when nectar flow is low.
3. Honey
Honey is an essential food for bees, providing them with all of the vital nutrients they require to flourish. Without enough honey, a colony will quickly go into starvation mode.
Beekeepers must keep an eye on this situation as fall approaches and dry summers in the Midwest create a dearth of nectar-secreting flowers. If they miss this window to feed their bees, they could face serious hardship over winter.
Thankfully, it is possible to help bees avoid this predicament by creating and feeding them sugar syrup in the fall. This supplemental feed will enable them to store up on their honey stores and ensure they have plenty of food for winter.
Ideally, your hive should contain between 60-80 pounds of honey. Although climate and region can affect this number, it is essential that you leave enough on your hives during the fall to help them weather winter comfortably.
4. Beeswax
Beeswax is an organic compound secreted from eight glands on worker bee’s abdomen. This brittle, scaly, clear and colorless wax is utilized by hive workers to construct honeycomb cells for storage of honey, pollen, propolis as well as larval/pupal protection.
Beeswax is naturally occurring, yet it can still become polluted with impurities from the environment. This can alter its color and prevent it from being melted down to create useful products like cosmetics or other items intended for human consumption.
Thankfully, there are several ways to incorporate beeswax into your hives during the autumn season. One option is using a division board feeder which takes up minimal space within the body of the hive and can be placed near clustering bees.
