Corn syrup has long been used by beekeepers as an aid for supplementing colony’s diet during periods of nectar dearth. But be mindful when feeding this product to your bees! There are some considerations worth keeping in mind before choosing this method to feed them.
Light Karo syrups are typically flavored with vanilla, while dark Karo syrup has more of a molasses flavor. Some beekeepers also prefer more concentrated solutions containing 2:1 sugar to water ratio.
Contents
1. Mixing the Syrup
Corn syrup (Karo in particular) is an integral component of many baking recipes, often being enhanced by adding vanilla or molasses for extra depth of flavor. You’ll find different brand or house label varieties in your local grocery store’s baking aisle.
High-fructose corn syrup has been linked to obesity, diabetes and heart disease by some studies; however, high-fructose corn syrup remains a popular component in processed food and beverages such as soda and juices.
To create simple syrup, mix equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat, and stir continuously until all the sugar has been dissolved. Feel free to add any flavoring elements you desire while warming – rosemary, lemon-thyme or cinnamon would work nicely here – adding rosemary may help prevent scorching! If stored properly in an airtight jar in the fridge it should keep for approximately one month and can then be used to sweeten tea, create Old Fashioned cocktails, or infuse fruit into cocktails for cocktails or Old Fashioneds!
2. Containers
There are various containers used for feeding bees. Some, known as hive top feeders, can be installed directly at the entrance to their hives; these can become messy quickly and disrupt bee activity quickly; they may also encourage robbing.
Entrance feeders, which sit over an open hole in the inner cover and rest upside-down, can be easier to use while still having the potential to spill. They usually feature a screen over their opening to protect bees from drowning in their contents.
Spray bottles can be used to spray sugar syrup directly onto bees. A lighter ratio of sugar to water may prevent any potential blockages in the sprayer clogging up, while pouring the syrup directly into empty jars or cans placed at the entrance can also work well – though beware if there is too much rainfall as these containers could dislodge and spoil.
3. Seasonal Feeding
Normal management practices will usually result in very little supplemental feeding being required, however it can be useful in maintaining food reserves during the winter and/or when weather interferes with natural forage opportunities. Supplemental feeding provides another avenue of support.
Sugar water (1:1) syrup should be fed through either a shallow feeder placed in the hive or placed comb scrapings on a division board feeder with flotation material for bee safety, in order to prevent bees from falling into and drowning in its depths.
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is widely used across the US and Eastern Canada; however, in British Columbia due to health concerns associated with it1. While HFCS contains both sugar and fructose, heating produces the chemical hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which has been shown to harm bees1. Sucrose can provide an equally safe alternative and should be used instead in bee feeders instead of HFCS.
4. Feeding the Bees
Bees can be fed a selection of food sources in case their honey stores run low, including stored honey, isomerized corn syrup (high fructose corn syrup – HFCS) or plain old table sugar.
Heavy syrups made with 15 pounds of sugar dissolved in one gallon of boiling water can provide beekeepers with a fast way of increasing winter stores or stimulating broodrearing during times of nectar dearth.
For ease of use, prepare a pail of syrup and place it inside an empty super or hive body with its cover on. A slit can then be cut in the pail’s lid to allow bees to access their food source; alternatively a plastic freezer bag could be placed between frames in your hive with some holes punched through it for bees to access and consume it directly.
