Pollen substitutes are dry feed mixed with sugar that bees can consume in the form of patties. They are commonly used to replace their natural source of pollen.
There have been many studies conducted on pollen replacement diets, but many lack laboratory or field negative controls (Supplementary Tables 1-3). Such controls could help assess which diets were more beneficial to bee health than others.
Priddy Acres Sweet B Fondant
Priddy Acres is a small farm located just outside Salem, Oregon that specializes in making all-natural products for both humans and bees. Their most popular item is bee fondant or “bee candy”, an easily digestible treat which contains low moisture levels for optimal bee health.
They produce wax as a traditional bee product and offer pollen substitutes and accessories to keep hives active during the winter. Plus, there’s their Facebook page and Twitter account!
This website offers a vast selection of products from around the globe with free shipping to and from Kuwait, plus beekeeping books, videos and podcasts to satisfy your curiosity. In addition, they have integrated an app so that customers can order, track and pay for their orders quickly and safely – they are 100% legitimate online shops!
Priddy Acres Sweet B Simple Bee fondant offers exceptional value, and comes in an economical 10lb bucket, making it the ideal present for beekeepers or enthusiasts.
MegaBee
Megabee pollen substitute is a protein-rich dry mixture that bees can collect outside their hives to feed on. Bees love this treat as it helps them expand their colonies.
The substance can be utilized in multiple ways, from making patties for the hive and feeding it directly to bees in feeder boxes, to being safely consumed by bees without additives or preservatives; additionally, essential oils may help promote their health and prolong longevity.
Beekeepers make pollen patties by mixing dry pollen substitute with cane sugar and water, which provides bees with a balanced diet and sufficient proteins to ensure their colony continues growing. This method ensures a proper supply of pollen patties.
Alternative approaches include feeding liquid pollen substitute mixed with sugar syrup as an ideal choice for busy beekeepers looking to maximize nutrition intake or those who lack time for making patties.
Liquid supplements add additional benefits to honey bee colonies that cannot be found naturally (Manning, 2018). Supplements have been shown to improve brood development and queen rearing as well as help build up colonies for spring-building and fattening (Manning).
Colonies fed both alder pollen and pollen substitutes experienced similar growth rates as control colonies without supplementation, when there was sufficient alder pollen available. The only variable that differed was propolis being present among supplemented groups.
Artificial bee diets still lack some essential proteins for bee health, however this will need further research and development work. Patties provide bees with protein sources while simultaneously being an effective way to soothe stressed colonies affected by low pollen supplies or cold weather conditions.
